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Ever feel like a piece of toast left in the toaster too long—burnt, brittle, and just plain done? You’re not alone.
Take Jimmy, for example. He’s a seasoned surgeon pulling 10-hour days on his feet. After hours of intense focus, his back is tight, his fingers ache, his shoulders slump almost imperceptivity, and his neck is locked forward. All he wants is to kick back with a drink on his boat. But instead, he heads home to more noise, more needs, more life.
His wife of 20 years greets him warmly, launching into her usual play-by-play of the day. Jimmy can’t take it. He cuts her off and asks for silence. She pauses, looks into his eyes, and says quietly:
“Your light is gone.”
You’re not imagining it—burnout is real. According to a 2025 Gallup poll, only 44% of U.S. adults report being “very satisfied” with their personal lives. That’s a major drop from 65% in 2020. Translation? Over half of Americans are running on empty.
But there’s good news: that inner spark isn’t gone. It’s just dimmed. And you can reignite it.
Here are two simple, ways Jimmy—and you—can begin to feel alive again.
This simple sensory reset helps pull you out of autopilot and into the present.
Mix it up! You don’t have to hit all five senses every time and you can pair the senses and numbers in any combination. The point is to pause and tune in to your real-time experience. Try it first thing in the morning, before bed, or even mid-day while unloading the dishwasher or mowing the lawn.
2. Spy Happiness (a.k.a. Find the Gold in the Grit)
Jimmy awoke with a start one morning. His stomach immediately tensed when he heard the rain outside and considered the day’s demands. But instead of groaning through it, he played a game:
Spy Happiness: Make an intentional point to find something that you appreciate in every circumstance –offer a word of thankfulness for the positive aspects of what is happening in the momen
Before getting out of bed, he smiled and whispered,
“I’m lucky to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Later, stepping into the rain, he paused to breathe in the earthy scent and smiled, thinking, “This smells like renewal.”
That tiny shift? It matters.
Identifying the Positive, allowing it to sink in (savor) + Smiling = fewer stress hormones, more feel-good chemicals.
✅ Start Small. Repeat Often.
Try these exercises a few times a day for a week. You’re literally rewiring your brain to notice and appreciate life’s good stuff and contribute to greater peace and joy.
These suggestions initiate a change in perspective, but they likely are not enough to restore joy. Working with a yoga therapist, coach, or psychologist can give you the tools—and the accountability—to keep the spark alive and glowing.
👇 What’s one thing you Spied Happiness in today? Comment below!
Debbey Woodruff – Your WellBEing Guide – is a certified yoga teacher and mindfulness practitioner who specializes in heart-centered practices that optimize physical, mental and emotional health (including yoga therapy). She guides others toward Whole-body Optimized WellBEing helping them reconnect with their body, mind and spirit. Debbey is the owner of Breakthrough! WellBEing Phone: 704-881-4912 and email: [email protected]
Debbey Woodruff – Your WellBEing Guide – is a certified yoga teacher and mindfulness practitioner. Through yoga therapy, mindful movement, breathwork, and guided self-reflection, Debbey helps you reconnect with your body, calm your mind, and nurture lasting emotional well-being. Experience a compassionate, personalized path to healing and renewal and find your W.O.W. – Whole-body Optimized WellBEing ©. Debbey is the owner of Breakthrough! WellBEing Phone: 704-881-4912 and email: [email protected]
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