Occupational Burnout
George Frederic Watts oil painting Hope (1886) in which a blindfolded figure plays a lyre that has only a single string.
Occupational burnout has typically been framed around signs of:
1) EXHAUSTION - Emotional and physical exhaustion which feels overwhelming.
2) CYNICISM - Detachment, lack of morale, procrastination.
3) LOW SENSE OF COMPETENCE - Feelings of being ineffective, lack of accomplishment.
One of the most popular ways of measuring this is the Maslach Burnout Inventory™.
The Ki locates burnout using a slightly different approach - of how people respond to power.
The Journey to Burnout
THE WORKLOAD
The Ki responses under which a lot of people work are the green responses, the “Run Purpose” responses. They operate in flight imperative, under a Higher Power (eg the boss).
Looking at the centre 3:
Sequi (Three arrows like footsteps) - Follow what they have been directed to do, following steps.
Laborare (Work - Zig-zag of plough work) - Work out energy in labour during the day’s schedule.
Uti (Collar dogtag) - Use or purpose, which is their role and gives them value.
The burden and weight of work they carry is:
Durare (Atlas holding up the world) - Endure for higher purpose
The problem begins when the Durare - the load they have is too much for them to carry and endure.
1) Too higher workload
2) Too much pressure
3) Too much stress
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri - better known as ‘Il Guercino’ painting of Atlas Holding Up the World (1646)
It also often points to a lack…
1) Lack of higher purpose
For what higher purpose am I enduring this unbearably heavy load? eg Belief, Values, Goal, Benefit?
2) Lack of adequate support
From colleagues, management, friends and partners, to help share the load or provide adequate support.
3) Lack of rest
Holidays which in ancient times were “holy days”, and in Biblical terms even God took a rest on the 7th day after creation - ‘Sabbath’ meaning rest.
SURRENDER & COLLAPSE
Oftentimes there are signs visible that the person is not coping. Begging or plea-ing for help. (Obsecrare - to Beg Pray) Closing themselves off as a form of detachment and isolation from the work and workplace and others (Claudere - to Close off).
Then surrendering - giving-up of ego - that the workload and pressure is truly too much. (Dedere - to Surrender). Admitting in their mind- body that they are not up to the job of holding the load any more. (Admittere - to admit) From there the body collapses, along with mind, in Cadere - to fall. It is a ritual death.
THE WAY BACK UP
The way back up - generally advised in psychology and medicine is rest. Acquiescere - to acquiesce, to rest and quieten - in order to recover.
The Ki approach encourages the deep rest, but after suitable time begins to track an individual’s descent and ascent; identifying with them - the external factors (eg workplace, workload, management, environment, support system); and the internal factors (the person’s own Ki responses and agency), and works with the person in a way that is both embodied and conceptual - to map their way up, and any changes they wish to make in their life and in their Ki responses to power.
As people begin rising out of surrender, due to the work stresses and pressures which may not feel like have gone away, often there is a protective response of Vitare - to Avoid their workplace and their reality, and into Mutare - to shapeshift by escaping into an Other World, by cocooning, escaping in computer games or addictions, until / unless more substantive change is made and embodied, and hatched into their reality.
For some people, the way out may involve a significant change in their way of life, for example a change of workplace or job entirely; a different Dominari / rule.
To some, it may that they begin to employ different Ki responses - to speak and communicate knowledge and wisdom of self and job (Dicere - to speak); to stand ground and hold boundaries and not take on an unbearably heavy workload (Constare - to stand); to progress and move forward (Progredi - to progress) rather than having no sense of advancement and just drudgery; to form alliances with colleagues and friends for support (Alligare - to bind), of setting aims to pursue (Venari - to pursue) and opportunities to take up (Sumere - to take up), of identifying who will be watching over for future deadly threat - including the person themselves (Tueri - to protect), to be able to better fight to advocate for themselves against someone who would oppress them (Pugnare - to fight).
