254. Endless Expectations and Emotional Exhaustion, with Jonathan Hoover, author of Stress Fracture

Spiritual Life and Leadership

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Burnout. An all too familiar experience for most of us. It's more than just feeling tired or overworked. It's that crushing sense of futility when your passion for ministry runs out, and it leaves you wondering if you can even continue the work you were once so excited about.

Jonathan Hoover, the author of Stress Fracture, Your Ultimate Guide to Beating Burnout, shares valuable insights from his experience and research, including practical strategies for managing stress, the importance of self-care, and maintaining emotional and spiritual health in leadership.

THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Jonathan Hoover shares the significant stress his father faced while pastoring their church.
• Jonathan Hoover explains how his father experienced severe emotional and physical symptoms of burnout.
• Markus Watson asks about the role of spirituality in addressing burnout.
• Jonathan Hoover highlights how the biblical story of Elijah offers insights into addressing burnout through rest and care.
• The world tempts people to believe they are infinite, leading to stress and burnout.
• Jonathan Hoover talks about 'super rats' and the dangers of endless adaptation to stress.
• Creating margin in life by setting limits can help prevent burnout.
• Monitoring multiple aspects of life, such as physical and emotional health, can help manage burnout.
• Jonathan Hoover introduces the concept of emotional exhaustion and how it impacts emotional regulation.
• Emotional intelligence decreases as emotional exhaustion increases.
• Burnout leads to a loss of passion and a fatalistic outlook on success.
• Minimizing distractions and increasing self-awareness are crucial in preventing burnout.
• To prevent burnout, people need to realize their own limits and adjust their workloads.
• Jonathan Hoover explains that emotional awareness is necessary for making lifestyle adjustments.

• RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:
• Jonathan Hoover:
  • Website – drjonathanhoover.com
  • Church website - Newspring.org
• Books mentioned:
  • Stress Fracture, by Jonathan Hoover
  • Leadership on the Line, by Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky
• Related episodes:
  • 136. Healthy Attachment and Spiritual Leadership, with Todd Hall
  • 175. From Burnout to Resilience, with Jason Young
  • 179. The Neuroscience of Spiritual Formation, with Jim Wilder

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