In a fairly recent survey, I asked participants to list the top issues that were stealing/draining their joy.
Responses were typical and included matters such as heavy workload, lack of recognition, difficult people, lack of support, non-value added work, politics, constant changes, complainers, low performers, demanding customers, inadequate systems, trust issues, opinions not valued, negative coworkers, and fear.
As I reflected on these results, I arrived at the conclusion that many of these troubling issues may be about perspective. I believe the number one reason for burnout is “disappointment”. As we know from dealing with patients, setting expectations influences the overall patient experience. Similarly, our expectations matter. Our beliefs and values also matter. This line of thinking led me to ask myself, how do I defeat disappointment rather than allow disappointments to defeat me?
This challenged me to think about the purpose for my leadership and ask myself:
What gap have I been divinely assigned to fill? What have I been divinely handpicked to do? Is my perceived purpose congruent with my values and beliefs? Under what condition(s) am I likely to engage in self-defeating behaviors triggered by disappointment? What are my expectations? Are my expectations consistent with servant leadership philosophy, driven by love for others, and rooted in healthy beliefs?
Unfulfilled expectations confront us all. How we handle our disappointments will have a powerful impact on the peace and stability of our lives. If how we cope with disappointments are affected by what we believe about our situation or circumstances, we must remain alert to sorting fact from story. Healthy beliefs are essential to sustain a joyful heart. Beliefs are healthy to the degree they motivate us to be and do that which is right, beneficial, and growth producing. I challenge us all to examine our beliefs routinely to see if in them we find life-giving and joy-sustaining keys to success and happiness.
Share your thoughts in the comments below!