What is the secret to protecting yourself from workplace burnout?
“Why won’t he just give up and die already?” hissed the bewildered sand guard. His tan colored robes whipped violently in the hot humid wind. And torrents of desert dust showered mercilessly down upon them.
“Are you talking about that frail old man over there working in the death pile, Lieutenant?” replied the lieutenant.
“Yesss….it has been years that he has been working in that death pile. Every day he and his fellow prisoners sort through the dead bodies of their kind. And then they caste them into the incinerator. Over the years, I have seen what this work does to them. There is grief, sorrow, and depression. It comes from seeing fellow inmates die from being overworked in the sand mines, starved to death, and even tortured for trying to escape. It can drive anyone to insanity. They all end up jumping into the incinerator themselves and never coming out. But… this prisoner seems to be different.” The sand guard continued to zoom in on his telescopic goggles to track the frail man as he picked up another limp body and pulled it towards the fiery furnace.
“Oh, what is so special about this particular prisoner?” questioned the lieutenant as picked up his biometric scope to eye the prisoner for himself.
“Every single body that he uncovers and sorts seems to move him to tears…. but they are not tears of sorrow or grief. They seem to be tears of…dare I say… happiness?! With every passing day, those around him have their hope sapped out of their souls. But his continues to grow…steadily day by day,” scoffed the puzzled sand guard with disdain.
Little did they know, that as this frail old man woke up each day and worked tirelessly in the death pile, he was searching for his daughter. And each and every body that he uncovered brought him joy. For he knew that she was still alive.
Many people may end up in jobs or situations where certain pressures can be toxic and emotionally lethal. But those who thrive in such harsh climates, are the ones who are able to find a way to metabolize the toxins. For they convert the crippling pressures and the pains into a life-giving purpose.
