Is it Possible to Get Burnt Out As a New Convert By Doing Too Much? - Page 2

TrueLight · #16 Sep 28, '11, 8:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blenderx

Yes. A balance is needed in the spiritual life. It is better, for example, to pray one Our Father very well than a hundred poorly. We don't want to equate the number of our prayers or devotions or works with our progress in the spiritual life. Slow and steady wins the race, right? I have read many times and many places warnings against taking on too much, too soon. It is a manifestation of hidden pride and spiritual gluttony and very common in beginners on the way of perfection and may be harmful to the practice of true devotion.

Spiritual Gluttony! What a delicious, and at the same time, concerning phrase.

Is it possible to be a spiritually glutton?

choliks · #17 Sep 28, '11, 8:19 pm

If I may, sis...

Spreading yourself too thin by being involved with many ministries is one cause of burn-out. I say focus on one ministry first. Enjoy it and offer it as your sacrifice.

If possible find a spiritual director. He/she can help you develop your prayer life even more.

I say walk instead of run (sorry Jared). Though it's a race, it doesn't matter who get's there first. How can you enjoy the "scents and the scenery" if you hurry? How can you relish your walk with the Lord if you run?

God bless and welcome home sis!

mcrow · #18 Sep 28, '11, 8:20 pm

I think there is something to "burning out'.

I was received into the church at Easter Vigil this year. While I have had my struggles, as everyone does, I found that the biggest problem was holding a standard too high. If I sinned, I'd get so down on myself that I'd doubt I could be a "real" Catholic. I'd obsess about it to the point where I'd discourage myself so much that my faith was shook a couple of times.

However, I've now learned that while we should aim for holiness, we should also expect to fall short from time to time. I've just taken approach that I'm a work in progress and things have been better since then.

choliks · #19 Sep 28, '11, 8:30 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrueLight

Spiritual Gluttony! What a delicious, and at the same time, concerning phrase.

Is it possible to be a spiritually glutton?

I guess there's nothing wrong with having a rich spiritual life. But if it starts to cost you your other obligations and responsibilities (i.e. your kids), then I guess that qualifies as spiritual gluttony. Unless you're a contemplative or a monk. I hope others can clarify.

JaredR · #20 Sep 28, '11, 8:48 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrueLight

Spiritual Gluttony! What a delicious, and at the same time, concerning phrase.

Is it possible to be a spiritually glutton?

Unfortunately, yes. Spiritual gluttony is when we seek spiritual feelings from our practices and are always after sensible devotion. St. John of the Cross especially warns us against this. We are only serving ourselves if our motive is to feel good all the time and always be on a spiritual "high."

If your motive is to please God and acquire virtue, and not to chase pleasant spiritual emotions, then you shouldn't worry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by choliks

If I may, sis...

Spreading yourself too thin by being involved with many ministries is one cause of burn-out. I say focus on one ministry first. Enjoy it and offer it as your sacrifice.

If possible find a spiritual director. He/she can help you develop your prayer life even more.

I say walk instead of run (sorry Jared). Though it's a race, it doesn't matter who get's there first. How can you enjoy the "scents and the scenery" if you hurry? How can you relish your walk with the Lord if you run?

God bless and welcome home sis!

That's OK. God made us with different temperaments. I believe True and St. Paul may have similar personalities, and that's why I encourage her to run like St. Paul did. (Keeping in mind the very prudent advice she has received from everyone else.)

perro sarnoso · #21 Sep 29, '11, 5:06 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrueLight

Two people that I know have counseled me to just chill when it comes to Catholicism and not to go too fast so I don't get burnt out.

I am naturally, a highly motivated, and curious person who absorbs knowledge like a sponge.

Could they be right?

When it comes to knowledge of your faith - quality and not quantity is best. Savour the knowledge.
Meditate on its meaning and flavour.

Learn slowly and with patience.........when you find something that touches your heart, something delicious .....hold it and listen to His voice.

Take your time..........Remember the parable of the seed and the sower. Remember the different places where the seed fell.

HonoraDominum · #22 Sep 30, '11, 3:34 am

It's been said that once a person shakes the bonds of habitual mortal sin and begins to walk the faithful path of a life in Christ, Satan's temptations often change from the bad things to the "good" things. The father of all lies tempts by encouraging piety to the point where the desired sacrifices, or prayers, or actions simply cannot be met, and the person can easily fall into despair and sadness in not being as "good" as one thinks he or she should be. You may think you need to start fasting until the point where your body becomes unable to take care of the daily duties of your vocation. Or you may feel you need to say the Rosary and LOTH and 30 minutes of mental prayer and Morning and Evening prayers and a novena and an hour of spiritual reading and and and and .... and then when you can't do it all in one day you may become discouraged, or frustrated, or feel unworthy. Or you may spend so much time kneeling in front of the blessed sacrament that your dog forgets who you are. Just because something is pious does not mean that it is what God has in mind for you at that very moment in your life.

As long as you live each moment of your life for God, and offer up all that you can towards Him, that is the most important part. Focus on the love of God, not the punishment of God, and trust in His divine mercy when you fall. You can become extremely holy, extremely fast by simply doing things for God that you used to do for yourself. Brother Lawrence, a discalced Carmelite monk said something that I have really taken to heart: "I turn my little omelette in the pan for the love of God."

And, as always, Audio Sancto has an amazing homily about following the will of God, and the means to holiness. This one is from a couple of weeks ago, actually.

Searching for and Maintaining Peace and Holiness

bethanysamuel · #23 Sep 30, '11, 10:03 pm

Yes its very possible. I'm in hospital (mental) due to spiritual burnout. Was trying to constantly do the right thing, forgive people who were hurting me etc...had nervous breakdown. I'm pretty desperate. I was very holy. I'm a recent convert. I won't receive here in hospital as i'm not in state of grace so i just bow my head a little when the nun walks by with Communion. I'm devastated at how things have turned out.

TrueLight · #24 Oct 1, '11, 4:57 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by bethanysamuel

Yes its very possible. I'm in hospital (mental) due to spiritual burnout. Was trying to constantly do the right thing, forgive people who were hurting me etc...had nervous breakdown. I'm pretty desperate. I was very holy. I'm a recent convert. I won't receive here in hospital as i'm not in state of grace so i just bow my head a little when the nun walks by with Communion. I'm devastated at how things have turned out.

I'm so sorry. I'll keep you in my prayers. God will get you through this.

Quote:

I won't receive here in hospital as i'm not in state of grace

Are you able to get a priest to hear your confession?

Marie5890 · #25 Oct 1, '11, 8:56 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by bethanysamuel

Yes its very possible. I'm in hospital (mental) due to spiritual burnout. Was trying to constantly do the right thing, forgive people who were hurting me etc...had nervous breakdown. I'm pretty desperate. I was very holy. I'm a recent convert. I won't receive here in hospital as i'm not in state of grace so i just bow my head a little when the nun walks by with Communion. I'm devastated at how things have turned out.

Keeping you in my prayers Bethany. You take care of yourself and you let us carry you spiritual for awhile until you get better and feel stronger.

Even Our Lord, and often, was known to take off in retreat from the pressures of His life.

Rest, recover, and recuparate.

God Bless.

bethanysamuel · #26 Oct 7, '11, 3:59 pm

My burnout seems not to have been in vain. Something new+exciting has come up, in an unexpected strange way. Too much 2 explain here, but God is revealing his plan for me and its looking good.

TimothyH · #27 Oct 7, '11, 7:33 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by choliks

If I may, sis...

Spreading yourself too thin by being involved with many ministries is one cause of burn-out. I say focus on one ministry first. Enjoy it and offer it as your sacrifice.

This is good advice. You can't be involved in every ministry, a devotee of every spirituality, and a member of both eastern and western rites at the same time. Catholicism is like a giant buffet. We want it all but have to realize that we are never going to be able to eat everything offered. It is good that we are at the buffet.

But for me, it took time to find what I love, what God was drawing my heart to. I wanted to become a cistercian monk, a diocisean priest, a missionary, an author of apologetics books, and everything else under the sun, and all that while raising two children. I was thinking about joining Opus Dei while trying to become St. John of the Cross. Then I slowly realized that my heart was in the liturgy and scripture. That is what I love. That is the place to which God was drawing me, to his word and to the liturgy. And so that is my focus. I altar serve and I lector. Maybe a deacon some day if it be God's will.

Find what your heart desires. Let God draw you in deeper. And that can change, it isn't static over your whole life. But if you are open to the Holy Spirit, God will lead you to where you are supposed to be.

Just my experience.

-Tim-

Monica4316 · #28 Oct 7, '11, 9:06 pm

I don't think you could do too much, only in the wrong way or for the wrong reasons. For example: focusing too much on feelings of devotion rather than love for God in the will, being too selfish rather than seeking to help others, becoming prideful or judgemental, etc. If you seek to love God and neighbour and seek humility, then it is good

God bless!

Contra Mundum · #29 Oct 8, '11, 2:12 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrueLight

How very perceptive of you.

Both of them have not known me for long.

One is the priest who gave me instruction. I believe he mentioned it because he was watching me gobble up a new spiritual book every week in addition to what he was giving me.

The second person is a woman who has known me for a little for two months. We chit chat after mass for about 15 minutes or so and she was very supportive of me during my instruction. I mentioned to her today that I just received prayer ropes and she didn't know what they were. Then I told her I was going to Vespers soon at the Eastern Church and she said, "Your priest is right. You better slow down before you burn out."!

I told her that I wouldn't and that is just my personality.

I was wondering about the same thing: how well do they know you.

The priest has probably seen a number of people who were excited and did a lot and then got tired. The woman is perhaps making assumptions based on her own personality and behaviour.

It seems like you are very motivated in all areas of your life and have a lot of energy. If you can read a couple of books a week - brilliant. I see nothing wrong with that. I think it is great that you are so into your faith and exploring different aspects of it. In this way you are likely to soon find a spiritual tradition that will nourish you and help you grow in holiness.

I believe that going slow has its virtues but so many saints lived passionately and gave everything to God. Many reached a certain point where they made that radical step and things changed forever. If more people were like that the church would flourish.

You know yourself, your limits and how much you can handle. I say trust your gut on this and enjoy this stage in your journey.