I was 40 years old leading a career in one of the largest beauty companies in the world. “Fab at 40” felt like a cruel joke when my life slowly, then quickly, imploded. Success became unsustainable as I clung to the same habits I relied on for decades. I only had enough energy to keep it together at work while I did my best to navigate divorce, my father’s grim diagnosis, the loss of a close friend, recurring health issues, and raising two young children.
By 41, I burned out. I crashed. Then, I stumbled into the magic of wellbeing and rebounded as the greatest I’d ever been.
My journey through therapy, spiritual healing and energy work helped me fully embrace what my 20+ business career and executive leadership didn’t. I changed my definition of success as well as the trajectory of my relationships, my leadership, and my life. Today I feel completely free of the version of myself that kept me wondering if there was more to life..
The #1 thing most people will never learn, and even less will embody, is “you create what you believe.”
So simple and yet so powerful.
I learned my burnout had less to do with external stress and more to do with my beliefs about success and achievement.
Once I uncovered what for so long limited me, I gave myself permission to rewrite the rules so I could emerge as the superpower I was meant to be.
That’s why I founded Raising Beauty, to help guide driven professionals from burning out to reclaiming the bold, beautiful, meaning-filled life they almost forgot existed.
Here are 7 common beliefs that commonly lead to burnout – especially true for high-achievers wearing the many hats required for modern day success.
The belief: If you want something done right, do it yourself.
Rewrite it: If you want something done well, collaborate with the best.
I was taught by the resilient women in my family that to do something right meant you needed to buckle down and do it yourself. Ethical, hardworking, filled with integrity? You bet. It’s also exhausting. At some point it becomes unproductive. Focus on what you do really well and leverage the strength and talent from resources around you. Collaboration is key for producing something extraordinary.
The belief: Success doesn’t happen without hard work.
Rewrite it: Success doesn’t happen without taking action.
Success certainly happens with a lot of hard work and grit. But, holding tightly to this belief may cause you to create more work for yourself than is necessary. Ever get bogged down with a ton of busy work that doesn’t move the needle? Real success comes from taking intentional action, learning from it, and stepping forward again.
The belief: The idle get left behind.
Rewrite it: Successful people use idle time to actively recover.
In an environment that is hyper focused on productivity, free time can feel very lazy. Sure, there are moments when you need to run on full throttle. Those moments need to be immediately followed by rest and revitalization. Optimal energy comes from the right balance of exertion and recovery. Self-care should be part of every execution plan.
The belief: Success is the key to happiness.
Rewrite it: Success is the result of happiness.
If you believe success is your destination to happiness, then you will always be chasing it with a feeling of scarcity. Scarcity breeds fear, anxiety and stress – none of the right ingredients for happiness. The most successful people know that feeling joy in the journey attracts more good fortune, opportunity, and prosperity. These are the ingredients for success.
The belief: Failure is not an option.
Rewrite it: Failure leads to learning and creation.
We learn from schooling to fear mistakes and failing. Yet, the best inventions and scientific breakthroughs happen because of several failed attempts. Measured testing leads to learning and improved creativity.
The belief: Say yes to every opportunity.
Rewrite it: Only say yes to what feels aligned.
Ambition makes it easy to say yes to any goal that is presented. But, this often leads to overexertion, stress and then burnout. Staying in full alignment with your purpose and vision not only establishes healthy boundaries, but it enables you to focus on what truly lights your heart.
The belief: Success is built from accomplishment.
Rewrite it: Success is built from impact.
Overachievers feel success from checking everything on their to-do list for the week. While productivity leads to accomplishment, impact leads to success. Pay closer attention to the value you offer to others and you will feel the reward of fulfillment.
One of the first things I help my clients do is listen to their bodies, find their long hidden beliefs, and take cues from their inner wisdom to write the path that will lead them to joy and freedom.
If this sounds like the potential shift your life needs, let’s schedule time to chat. I love helping people reclaim their lives and I might be able to help you.
Being beautiful starts here, with you.
