These Two Realizations Helped Me Overcome Activist Burnout
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At the height of my quest to change the world, I burnt out. One minute, I was fighting the power. In a span of time that felt like less than 5 minutes later, the power had kicked my ass.
When Vice covered a story referencing Paul Gorski’s research at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being, it was shared that almost half of the Social Justice and Human Rights activists interviewed by Paul had burnt out, never to return to the cause that seemingly wreaked havoc on their overall well-being and personal relationships. This still strikes a chord in me.
On a personal note, I had to accept that some would deem me unworthy as I developed new habits to remedy my burnout. I even have mixed feelings about the “activist” label. I’d rather just be a person who does things to help. If a label has to be there, I would rather something catered to my personality. Agent BoomKitty, perhaps?
My clever shtick aside, I’ll admit that my return from burnout wasn’t easy. It was a matter of balance and coming to terms with these two realizations that may seem fairly easy when written, but can be difficult to put into practice:
- Being present is a superpower.
I vividly remember the days I lost myself in art, music, and parties. But then I began adulting and started focusing on the injustices that surrounded my existence. While action truly is the antidote to despair, I was such an activist that I had forgotten to just breathe, exist, and appreciate all the bright spots.
There were so many moments of hugs, laughter, and parties that have shaped my identity. My world wasn’t just about being a black woman connecting the dots from 400 years of oppression to present day. My world wasn’t just about how climate change is ravaging Louisiana and the entire world. And my world wasn’t focused on the guilt surrounding my own privilege, nor the pressure to live up to the standards of dedication required to change the world.
Not to toot my own horn, but I will… I’ve always been fun. Like, really f**king fun. But I had turned away from that side of myself and I lost so much of “me” in the process.
I am here alongside millions of others fighting to create a better tomorrow, but I am also here to enjoy the beauty and the simple pleasures of life. There’s so much power in being present and tapping into the joy of your own existence. If having that joy is wrong, maybe we shouldn’t want to be right.
You’ll stay in this fight much longer by taking care of yourself and being the light in dark times. Not when things get better. Not when we have a new President. Someone needs you to be their light today, right here and right now.
2. Convincing everyone to feel what I feel is not a thing.
You know how most shirts come in general size ranges: S/M/L/XL/XXL? Imagine yourself shopping with a friend. You spot the best shirt you’ve seen in the past three days. Your friend tries on the shirt and it looks amazing. Then you try on the same shirt and it looks… rather suspicious.
Similar to that shirt, purpose cannot be neatly categorized based on what we think will fit. A great fit for one person doesn’t mean a great fit for all.
Despite historical controversies surrounding the sciences, we’re so lucky to have science as a reference for numerous reality checks. But emotions remain as a finicky and elusive enigma. Past experiences play a major role in shaping our realities and what we find important, and that view of the world feels challenged when someone has priorities that threaten the logic we’ve so carefully crafted to stay sane.
“The storytelling mind is allergic to uncertainty, randomness, and coincidence. It is addicted to meaning. If the storytelling mind cannot find meaningful patterns in the world, it will try to impose them. In short, the storytelling mind is a factory that churns out true stories when it can, but will manufacture lies when it can’t.” ― Jonathan Gottschall
Throughout my personal experiences as an activist, one of the most disheartening things I notice is the ego-stroking that’s often embedded in the mix. Self-awareness helps me stay in the chill zone and reduces my chances of blurring the lines between purpose and unnecessary ego satiation. In an attempt to keep the ego monster at bay (because we all have one), I make adjustments as needed. For example, I share a portion of my work openly and online but intentionally do much of it quietly. This approach also helps to keep the pressure off by not encouraging the idea that I’m always activated.
“True community work is letting everyone speak in their various identities, life experiences and fully hearing them out. Being a community worker is having a deep understanding of the multiple ways people have been oppressed as well as the privileges they might have. A community worker sinks their feet down in the soil and is right there. A community worker doesn’t stand on a pedestal and promote, promote, promote!” — Privilege in Activism — Ego is Not a Clan
It’s an honor to give energy to shifting perspectives that can create more conscious habits. Depending on how that perspective shifts, I pray that the decision to do more work for the greater good will follow. But changing everyone’s mind to fit my narrative is not my sauce. Besides, if everyone prioritized the same things as me, who would handle the other countless issues that need attention?
As it has so been declared and made infamous by pop legends of our time: You do you and I’ll do me.
Within the context of this discussion, the translation is: Respect others by acknowledging differences and don’t decide what is right for someone else. Continue on your own journey and like-minded people will walk beside you.
