Hey there Reader,
“Recognizing What We Carry” No More Hiding: My Own Radical Truth Moment
I’ve come to understand how easily we can hide behind what we call
“truth”
— how we can explain, justify, or minimize parts of our experience without ever really letting them be seen.
Over time, I’ve learned that real truth asks more of us. It asks us to pause, to listen, and to allow what’s underneath to come into view.
What I’m sharing today comes from that space — something revealing, meaningful, and real. It’s not without its challenges, but I’m learning to move through it with greater courage and kindness toward myself.
The term “burnout” was first coined in the 1970s by American psychologist Herbert Freudenberger, who used it to describe the effects of severe stress and high ideals in caregiving professions.
Those of us who have worked in service — in helping others, leading teams, or holding space for those in pain — know how easy it is to give from an empty cup without even realizing it.
In 2023, I stepped away from a career I had served for about 32 years — managing a victim services program.
I loved the work. I was good at it. I felt capable, confident, and deeply committed.
And yet… I also carried something heavy. Something I didn’t fully name at the time.
I want to share a piece of my story, not to focus on my experience, but to illustrate something that many of you reading this may recognize in your own lives:
… blind spots.
Moments when we don’t see how much we’re carrying. Moments when we don’t fully name what’s weighing on us.
It wasn’t until after I left the profession that I began to see the full picture.
The radical truth is, I didn’t recognize the signs of burnout in myself — not really. I saw exhaustion, yes. I saw the strain and the toll the work took. But I didn’t name it as burnout.
In fact, my husband was the one who first called it what it might be — he referred to it as PTSD.
That word landed heavily.
I don’t believe I experienced it in its most extreme form, but looking back, I can see that there were elements of both.
I was, in many ways, a high-functioning person living with the impact of prolonged stress. I thought I had taken good care of myself along the way — and in many ways, I had — but there were leaks, subtle signs that something was being held too tightly.
I kept pushing through. I kept doing what I do, because that’s what I’ve always done.
Whether I dismissed what I was feeling as being “overly dramatic” or simply didn’t have the space to name it, I failed to fully see it until I had stepped away.
And that’s another important awareness — sometimes we can’t understand the depth of what we’ve carried until we’re no longer carrying it.
That realization brought both sadness and relief.
Sadness for the years I moved through without fully acknowledging the weight, and relief in finally seeing it clearly.
Because that’s the thing about burnout — or any form of cumulative stress — we don’t always recognize it while we’re in it.
We become so practiced at managing and holding things together that it starts to feel normal.
What matters most, though, is what happens after that recognition.
When you begin to see what’s true — whether through your own awareness or through the insight of someone who loves you — you’re offered a choice: to keep going as you are, or to step toward what healing might look like.
For me, that step began with rest, and then with reflection. It took time to find my footing again — to remember what I loved, to rediscover my curiosity and sense of possibility.
Healing didn’t come in a straight line.
It was slow, uneven, and deeply human. But over time, I began to feel more grounded and more myself again.
If you’re in a space right now where you’re carrying something heavy — maybe unsure what it is or how to name it — please know that you’re not alone. The beginning of healing often starts quietly, with one honest moment of acknowledgment.
Sometimes it’s as simple as saying, “Something isn’t working anymore.”
From there, small steps follow. More rest. More gentleness. More truth.
This month, I invite you to take one small action that reconnects you to yourself — something that nourishes your energy, your spirit, your sense of possibility. It might be setting aside quiet time for yourself, asking for help, or finally listening to what your body has been trying to tell you.
Because awareness is the first act of courage. And from there, everything else begins to shift.
Three Coaching Reflections to Ponder
- What weight am I carrying that I haven’t fully named?
(Where might I be minimizing or dismissing something that needs my attention?)
- How do I know when I’m approaching burnout or disconnection?
(Notice what your early warning signs are — physical, emotional, or relational.)
- What one action could I take this week to reconnect with myself?
(It might be rest, honesty, or simply permission to pause.)
As I continue to explore this in my own life and work, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined the recent workshop, You Can Create an Exceptional Life. We began to explore what it means to put truth into action — and how it’s not just an idea, but an essential part of living an exceptional life.
There’s more to come on this theme, including a deeper dive in a future workshop. So stay tuned — and until then, may you find small moments of truth, courage, and care for yourself this week.
Warmly Marianne
✨ Step Into What’s Next
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➡️Book a free 15 minute Clarity Call to explore what’s possible.
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