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Introduction Video
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Start Here
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At Big Self School, we’ve been thinking about the relentless pace of modern life—how so many of us move through our days in survival mode, pushing harder and doing more, all while silently asking ourselves: “Why doesn’t this feel like enough?”
Burnout isn’t just about overwork or exhaustion; it’s what happens when the things that fuel us—our purpose, our joy, our connection—get buried under the weight of constant striving. For many of us, it’s not that we don’t know how to hustle. We’ve perfected that art. It’s that we’ve lost touch with who we are beneath all the doing.
This is why we created this Burnout Blueprint. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution—because burnout doesn’t happen in the same way for everyone. Your path into burnout is unique, shaped by your life, beliefs, habits, and environment. And so is your way out. But there are principles that can guide you, no matter your circumstances.
This Blueprint is based on the exact steps I took to pull myself out of my own dark night of the soul. In 2017, I hit a wall. After years of grinding at a venture-backed tech startup I co-founded, I was physically, emotionally, and spiritually depleted. My health crumbled, my identity unraveled, and the pressures I’d internalized for years caught up to me. Despite being a psychologist who knew all the “right” answers, I couldn’t apply them. I lost my way, unsure of who I was or what truly mattered.
It wasn’t easy, but I found my way back. I found my way home. Slowly, I began to confront the deeply held beliefs that had driven me to burnout: ideas about worth, identity, and success. I reexamined my relationship with work, reclaimed my core values, and built a life from the inside out.
This Blueprint is an invitation to join me in that process—not to hustle your way out of burnout, but to find your way back to yourself. It’s about discovering what’s essential to your well-being and realigning with it, one step at a time.
These steps aren’t about fixing you because you’re not broken. Instead, they’re about reconnecting with your essence—the parts of you that have always been whole but might have been drowned out by the noise.
So, if you’re ready, let’s begin. Together, we’ll explore the guiding principles that can help you recover, heal, and build a sustainable path forward. Whether you’re just beginning to notice the cracks or you’re deep in the thick of it, this Blueprint is here to guide you back to clarity, balance, and the vibrant life you deserve.
Let’s get started.
Big love,
Dr. Shelley
(P.S. If you’re curious about my full story, you can read it here or listen to it here.)
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Big Self School’s Burnout Blueprint isn’t just about burnout recovery—it’s your guide to finding your way back to yourself. This eight-step journey is designed to help you make sense of where you’ve been, reconnect with what truly matters, and uncover what’s possible when you start living a life that feels aligned with who you are at your core.
Each step in this Blueprint has been thoughtfully crafted to help you slow down, reflect, and realign. There’s no rushing here—this is your space to take a breath, step back, and move forward with greater clarity, balance, and intention.
Burnout can make you feel lost, but this process is here to remind you that your path forward begins with one small step.
If you have any questions, reflections, or feedback as you move through the Blueprint, we’d love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out to us anytime at [email protected].
Let’s get started—your path out of burnout begins here.
Team Big Self School
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“Self-care is never a selfish act - it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others. Anytime we can listen to true self and give the care it requires, we do it not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives we touch.”
― Parker Palmer
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