Burnout is one of the plagues of our modern, fast moving working culture. According to McKinsey Health Institute survey of 15.000 employees globally, 20-40% reported that they suffer from burnout symptoms.
From jungian viewpoint, burnout can be understood as a symptom of inner conflict, a disconnection between the conscious ego and the unconscious aspects of the psyche. The life energy that would normally be available for the ego to function in the external world has disappeared from its use. As the psyche can be seen as a relatively closed system that follows the law of conservation of energy, the energy has not vanished altogether but has sunk to the unconscious.
We may ask why and for what purpose would the energy disappear in burnout. It does not seem a meaningful mechanism from evolution viewpoint, as burnout symptoms make us feel weak and fragile. However, when we understand the psyche as a system that work towards maintaining a balance, a homeostasis, we may start to get glimpse of the teleology of the burnout.
The burnout may be the psyche’s way of balancing our one-sided overidentification with the persona, the mask of competence we wear to fit in our roles, and expectations in the workplace. Burnout may occur when we become too identified with our work role, constantly striving to meet external expectations without attending to our own emotional, and spiritual needs.
Burnout may also be a symptom of repressed shadow, i.e. those parts of us that have been denied, shamed and abandoned in the unconscious first by our parents and culture and later by ourselves.
When these elements are pushed down too long, they create inner tension, and the energy required to keep the shadow hidden can gradually drain us, leading to exhaustion.
Burnout may also signify a temporary block in our gradual psychic development towards becoming more wholly ourselves during our lifespan, a process that is called individuation. If we are neglecting our inner life, our creativity and authentic desires and values, the psyche may force us to take them seriously, to make us adapt not only to external but also internal demands, demands of the soul.
As we all have, irrespective of our gender, both masculine and feminine energies in us, burnout might result from one-sidedness or overemphasis on one of these polarities. If we are overly focused on action, productivity, and control, representing masculine energy, we may neglect the receptive, nurturing, and restorative feminine energy, leading to exhaustion.
Healing is possible.
Healing begins when we allow ourselves to gradually become aware of our repressed emotions, unmet desires, and areas of life that feel neglected. We may give them a voice by journaling, art, exploring our dreams, synchronicities, as well as in therapy, to uncover what has been lost or ignored and bring back the missing life energy back for ego’s disposal. This is a gradual, cyclical process, one where the journey itself is the reward rather than getting “there”, as there is no “there” to get to. The goal is to become more whole, not more perfect.
Healing may involve finding and maintaining a more conscious balance between action (masculine energy) and rest/receptivity (feminine energy). Practices like mindfulness, meditation, creative activities, and time spent in nature can help foster this balance in our action and goal oriented modern lifestyles.
In addition, meaning-making is important in restoring our psychological health. Engaging in simple rituals and finding a sense of sacredness in life may bring us renewal, or a more profound shift in our career or life direction.
