Why doesn’t that break or weekend off fix the burnout? And what relief you feel, fades away faster than you expected, right?
Let’s untangle something important.
Pleasure and joy are not the same thing.
Pleasure is:
Planned. External. Temporary.
The glass of wine. The scrolling. The escape.
Joy is different.
Joy is:
Unplanned. Internal. Ever-present.
It sneaks in while you’re watching students collaborate.
It shimmers when you step outside and feel the sun on your face.
It rises when something meaningful clicks.
Pleasure says, “I need a break from my life.”
Joy says, “There is something alive within my life.”
Burned-out educators often try to survive on pleasure.
My ex and I escaped on weekends get-aways every month because I needed something to look forward to that helped me make it through the days.
But what many educators, myself included, were really craving… is joy.
And joy doesn’t require you to leave your life.
It asks you to re-enter it differently.
Here’s an affirmation for you today:
I find joy in the simplest things. I cherish every moment.
Journal Prompt:
When was the last time you felt joy—not relief, not escape—but real, quiet joy?
Love and blessings,
Catherine
P.S. If relief isn’t enough anymore, let’s find what is. We can do that on a Soul Alignment Call: https://calendly.com/cattitude5932/soulalignmentcall