Only a few seats left for my Beyond InshAllah workshop on August 5th. This event is for high-achieving Muslims who excel everywhere except that one domain - whether it's marriage, wealth, health, or peace of mind. You've conquered careers, built businesses, and checked every box, yet something remains stuck. I am going to show you how to get unstuck without compromising your family, faith, or wellbeing. Limited to 100 people.
As-salaam alaykum!
Many Muslims sign up for my coaching after their "hustle and grind" era. They were putting in 12 hour days, working on weekends, going to networking events, run, run, run... Until one day, it all came crashing down. As a recovering "brunt out" executive, I know the feeling all too well.
While it is important to recover from burnout, I've noticed a trend where former burnt out Muslims have come to fear hard work. This is not good.
The amount of effort that is required to build something wholesome, beneficial, and rewarding is tremendous and if we shy away from hard work, we will not fulfill our potential
The ummah (and world) needs that we build the world we want to see, otherwise it will be built by people who work hard but lack consciousness.
So, here's the spiritually intelligent reframe:
Burnout is not working too much. Burnout is the result of working for too long on something that lacks purpose, value, and gratitude.
Most of us work because we either want an income, status, or recognition. Ironically, all of those things come from Allah. Income is from Allah. Status is from Allah, and so is recognition. When we obsess over what is promised, and neglect what is expected, burnout happens.
Here is the spiritually intelligent way to find purpose in your work, even in a job you "hate":
Start with your intention
The Prophet PBUH said:
"All actions are but intentions. And to each what they intend." [Sahih Muslim]
Notice how he (PBUH) said "all actions" the emphasis here on all, meaning no action is too small to have a good intention (in my new book "Spiritual Intelligence" I have an entire chapter on how to have powerful intentions for our businesses and careers. You can pre-order it and start reading the chapter below).
Spiritual Intelligence Book
Pre-order "Spiritual Intelligence" and get immediate access to the chapter on "intentions"
So while we want to have a powerful intention for ours jobs, we can regularly set our intentions throughout the day to refill our cup. Checking our intentions means we won't run on empty or agree to things we don't want to do.
Anytime you are working and feel like you are losing energy or enthusiasm you can ask "why does this work matter?", ascribing meaning to our work gives us a quick shot of dopamine.
Here are some more questions to ask throughout the day to keep renewing your intention:
"Why am I going to work today?"
"Why are we having this meeting?"
"Why do I feel so strongly about this matter?"
"Why do I want this project/account/promotion?"
Follow up with recognition
In our desire to be recognized, we often fail to recognize others. So while we might not be celebrated at work, it doesn't mean that we have to withhold celebrations for others.
Here is a simple spiritual intelligence rule: give first to others what you are desiring
So if you want praise, praise others. If you want a promotion, promote others. If you want clients, become someone's client. This not only helps remove the focus from ourselves but our brain will still experience those feelings as if we got them!
The best way to get appreciation, is to appreciate others. Here's the trick: do it in real-time. Immediately praise a colleague or direct report: "James, that opening statement was amazing!" If you miss the chance to do it right away, then to do it after the fact via email or text. Genuinely recognizing others gives us a dopamine boost, and reduces cortisol (the stress hormone) in the recipient.
Finish with gratitude
Before ending your day, acknowledge one small thing you are grateful for: "I am grateful I helped solve James' problem"
"I am grateful I was able to deliver on my promise"
We often think that job satisfaction is about the big projects and "impact" or "scale" but satisfaction is really about the small wins. If we cannot appreciate the small wins, then it's impossible to appreciate the big ones.
Allah reminds us:
"If you thank Me, I will increase you." [14:7]
To be able to celebrate the big milestones, you have to be grateful for the mundane first.
What is one small win you can celebrate today?
Jobs can drain our soul, and you should definitely leave if you are being mistreated. However, nothing happens by chance, and Allah puts us in situations to grow closer to Him. So if you are at your job, it's for a reason. Might as well make the most of it.
Reply to this email and let me know how do you manage burnout?
May Allah's Peace be with you
James