The Six “R” Road to Burnout Recovery – Part IV: The Next Two “R”s – Retreating & Writing

3.  Retreating

 

When you read the word “retreat,” do you think “refuge” before “defeat?”

The difference is huge – white-water flow or flood stage deluge.
To give up, back off, perhaps recede
It’s a real “hot button”:  you hate to concede.
To withdraw facing alleged strength superior
Incites an inner shriek:  You are INFERIOR!

Retreat:  Reflect and Refuel, Redesigned Not Resigned

As mentioned before, what if retreat is really more –

A time to face your exhaustion, to free up reflection
To refuel and design a strategic position.
Group’s that survive do more than wish
To hell with pretenses, they will crawfish.
Those often winning that much prized medal
Know when and how to quickly backpedal
Grabbing some shelter, finding peace and quiet
Amidst helter-skelter and battlefield riot.

One Must Let Go, Sometimes Eat Crow

to Be Prepared to Go with the Flow

Retreat is not all deliberation; it often signals decisive action:

I don’t ask very much:  just let go of a longstanding crutch –
That “personal savior”…your almighty will power?
At one time or another, to get it together
You may need to retire to an “ivory tower.”

I’m not talking forever, nor an installation

More a space to savor the imagination.
A private sanctum to picture a mountain
A rushing stream or cool spraying fountain.
From a hidden nook espy a fresh look…
A down-to-earth heaven; a reverse Garden of Eden:
Mind meadows and canyons, a lush place to examine
And the skillful weeding of self-defeating patterns.

Double-Edged Memories:  Electrical Echoes

Secret valley echoes are hard-earned mementos

Most sacred ground to revisit old wounds, alas
Not without danger if you’ve been a stranger.
As Proust observed through years of reflection
Memories of emotion are two-sided commotion.
Both virulent slow poison and succulent Aloe potion.
Or as Joan Baez would sing…all that memories bring:
From hot lava love to glacial mistrust –
Eternal diamonds and erosive rust.

Yet absent those memories – that electrical current

Despite best policies, we’re merely knights errant:
For any retreat to escape “same old” repeat
There must be living memory to learn from our history –
Making peace with old tragedy while igniting bold strategy.
For author, John Fowles, root instincts are lost
Without a wired primal brain “power source.”

Fertile Association and Final Reflection

Now design a platform for electric group brainstorm

Try building in norms while digging out worms.
Find new paths and partners with whom to perform.
(Of course, the retreat is not a springboard to cheat.)

Still final reflection involves introspection –

Engaging one question and a critical notion:
First, how did I create my burnout condition?
Next, a game-changing realization…
There’s no longer an option or a real choice:
Stop running from your own true inner voice.

© Mark Gorkin 2013

Shrink Rap ™ Productions

Mark Gorkin, MSW, LICSW
The Stress Doc ™

301-875-2567

www.stressdoc.com
stressdoc@aol.com

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Mark Gorkin, the Stress Doc ™, www.stressdoc.com, acclaimed Keynote and Kickoff Speaker, Webinar Presenter, Retreat Leader and Motivational Humorist, is the author of Practice Safe Stress and The Four Faces of Anger. A former Stress & Violence Prevention consultant for the US Postal Service, the Stress Doc leads one-day "Stress Resiliency" workshops for "METRO" Managers and Supervisors of the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA).  "The Doc" is also a Team Building and Organizational Development Consultant as well as a Critical Incident/Grief Intervention Expert for Business Health Services, a National Wellness/EAP/OD Company.  Mark leads highly interactive, innovative, and inspiring programs for corporations and government agencies, including the US Military, on stress and brain resiliency/burnout prevention through humor, change and conflict management, generational communication, and 3 "R" -- Responsible, Resilient & Risk-Taking -- leadership-partnership team building.

Email stressdoc@aol.com for his popular free newsletter & info on speaking programs and phone coaching sessions.  And click https://vimeo.com/69053828 for the Stress Doc's wildly pioneering "Shrink Rap" video.

Stress Doc Mantra: "Think out of the box, perform outside the curve (the Bell Curve) and be out-rage-ous!"
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