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Tinabeth Chapman's avatar

Beautiful art. Congratulations on getting over the burnout and back to painting your dream.

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Ashutosh joshi's avatar

I am going through a burnout too. I write. After writing my first book and self-publishing it, I am in a sort of a confused state and hence I am taking a break in the mountains. To find some new motivation and maybe some spark that would help me to think of new things.

This article feels like everything that is going on with me right now. Thanks for writing this Kate. 🕊️

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Kate Kern Mundie's avatar

Enjoy this time to rest and find your spark again. Mine has been eye opening and a real life changer.

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Ashutosh joshi's avatar

I am enjoying this time too. Loving your paintings btw..

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J Callender Photography's avatar

I certainly applaud the sabbatical. I'm on my 3rd.

I'm definitely not going back this time but it means I have to find some other way to make a living...which funny to hear b/c what I was doing before wasn't really living.

I firmly believe that given the way our life systems drag us along, sabbaticals are a necessary pause to implement for any hope of resetting. There's simply too much inertia to be able to change while remaining immersed in the stuckness.

I've given the idea of burnout a lot of thought. The origins of it are from an underlying system model that does not align with the realities of the work or human needs and desires on a deeper level. The ongoing misalignment creates problems which in turn causes a host of symptoms to constantly have to mitigate. The ongoing mitigating wears you down until you end up in an uncurious and unconscious state....going through the motions.

I'd strongly suggest that what's at the route of human burnout is a lack of connection with curiosity and consciousness in the day to day. The stress and frustration is simple the symptoms of the underlying disconnect.

Becoming an artist is incredibly difficult but it does not feel like burnout.

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Kate Kern Mundie's avatar

I agree. The way we are expected to labor is at odds to our normal human cycles, creativity and thought.

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Tim McFarlane Studio's avatar

Kate, I applaud you for being willing to take time for yourself and get on the road to burnout recovery. I think I'm experiencing a bit of burnout myself, not in the same way as you, but stress is at the core. I'm trying to not let it overwhelm me, but I try to take it day by day. I hope the best for you and that you're able to see your way towards renewal.

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Kate Kern Mundie's avatar

Thank you. All the pressures of being creative and making art is a challenge and getting the right kind of time to recharge is hard. I hope you find a was to keep your spark going. The work you are doing is beautiful and I love the poem series you are working on.

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