If you know me, you know I value consistency and discipline—sometimes to a fault. It’s amazing that even positive habits when pushed to the brink, can bring out negatively in our lives.
It wasn’t until I ‘crashed and burned’ with chronic illness that I was finally pushed to a new level of understanding myself. I was forced to be still, look within, and slow the heck down!
On this journey, I learned many important lessons that have nothing to do with doctors, medications, or holistic treatments (and everything to do with life).
Here are 5 lessons I’ve learned coming back and rediscovering life again….
Lesson 1 – Embrace Change, Be Adaptable
Admittedly, I’m not good with change. I hate uncertainty and can’t seem to pivot when things don’t go as planned.
But I’ve learned: the only constant in life is change.
As Mike Tyson famously said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.“
Life is chaotic. We can’t fight it. There’s no way we’ll ever know everything or be able to prepare for all that lies ahead…. And that’s OK!
There’s actually a lot of beauty in not knowing every detail or how this chapter of our lives will turn out… The sooner we rest in God’s plan and stop fighting our need to know, the sooner we can experience the peace and calmness in our lives.
Bottom line: Adaptability is a superpower!
Lesson 2 – Too Much Focus on the Days & You’ll Lose Sight of the Years
It’s easy to get caught up in the daily ups and downs and lose sight of the bigger picture. When I was in the thick of things, I would get so entrenched in the daily struggle that I had a hard time zooming out to recognize the small wins and healing that was taking place over time.
Constantly zooming in leads to two problems:
- Challenges seem bigger than they are.
- Progress seems slower than it actually is.
But when we step back and view life from 10,000 feet, we can see how manageable our challenges are and how evident our progress has been.
When in doubt, zoom out!
Think forward 40+ years – how would your future self be changed by what you’re doing right now?
Go back 15+ years – how would your past self be proud of you today?
Bottom line: Stop and look back at how far you’ve come!
Lesson 3 – Discipline Trumps Feelings
There are many days when I don’t feel like getting up early, doing my morning routine, and hitting the gym. Even when I know I’ll feel 1000x better if I do, I can’t get motivated.
I just don’t feel like it.
It’s easy to be disciplined and consistent when you feel great—but what about the days we feel like crap?
I’ve learned that starting is the hardest part. When I was sick – it was depressing, and I never felt like doing anything. Even things I once enjoyed seemed like a big chore, and it was easier to just bail out.
READ: Why I’ll never take my health for granted
But when I did take one step in the right direction, I kept up the momentum. The power of the mind is very real.
Now, when I don’t feel like running, I tell myself, ‘just run a mile’. If I don’t feel like writing, I tell myself, ‘just write a sentence or two…’
And you know what…. 99% of the time, I keep going. I run all the miles, write all the words, and do all the things.
Bottom line: Just start.
Lesson 4 – Slow Down & Listen to Your Body
It’s a lesson that hit me hard: sometimes, you just have to slow down and tune in to what your body is trying to tell you. I get it —we’re all about the grind, thinking rest is for the weak.
I’ve been there myself—pushing down that inner voice, trying to keep up the pace with everyone else. It wasn’t long before the rush became my normal; I didn’t even question it.
When you start to prioritize yourself, it seems everyone wants to give you their advice and tell you what’s best. But the truth is, only you know what you need—and that may look very different from the right way for others.
Carve your own path.
Listening to your body isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a form of wisdom.
Bottom Line: Listen to your body. You do YOU!
Lesson 5 – We’re all in this life together.
Maybe you’re not on the brink of burnout or suffering disease, but we all have our own struggles.
And the truth is this: Every single person you encounter is fighting a battle—and it’s probably one that you don’t understand.
No matter our differences, the pain we feel is universal. We all have a unique story.
Even though we each step into battle carrying our own strengths and weaknesses, diverse backgrounds, and various viewpoints – we share a common bond in facing it together.
Pain is pain. And we all experience it. You’re not alone.
Bottom Line: We’re all a hot mess.
The Wrap – Life Lessons After Burnout & Chronic Illness
My journey has taught me a lot about bouncing back and enjoying life, and I’ve realized there’s a fine line between healthy habits and pushing yourself too hard. (And that burnout is a very real thing!)
The bottom line:
- Change is the only constant, so roll with it. It makes life less predictable but more exciting.
- Don’t sweat the small stuff. Looking at the big picture helps keep things in perspective.
- Discipline matters, but so does listening to yourself. On rough days, just getting started can make a huge difference.
- Slowing down to check in with yourself isn’t lazy—it’s smart.
- We’re all in this together. Everybody’s fighting a battle you know nothing about, so a little kindness goes a long way.
In short, life’s a wild ride, – Remember, we’re all figuring it out as we go, so let’s be easy on ourselves and others.
I’m cheering you on!
XO,
jules
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