Hi friend,

How are you?

I hope you’re rested, healthy, glowing, carefree, surrounded by loved ones, basking in abundance, and living your best life.

And if you’re not? I’m here for you.

I’ve been thinking a lot about balance. Mostly because I’ve been lacking it lately.

In one sense, my life is, literally, a balancing act. Between social impact clients, parenthood, family, friends, Issue Space, local community, and the logistical whirlwind that surrounds it all, I have to dole out my attention with intention. One could say that’s striking a balance.

But having multiple causes, being intent on giving my all, and not wanting to miss a moment takes a toll. These things are all virtues until they feel like vices.

And that makes me think about all of us. For social impact pros, each item on a work to-do list doesn’t just represent a task – it’s a value, a need, a relationship, a calling. And the backdrop is a world where, when systems fail, individuals and communities – including professionals and organizations – bear the burden of repair. Between these two realities, who could blame a changemaker for finding it hard to lighten their load?

This conundrum is exactly why the topic of burnout in the social impact space is one I felt Issue Space couldn’t ignore. I’ve heard too many stories, and had unforgettable experiences myself, that scream a warning: “Bring your fire to the cause, yes. But don’t let that fire consume you.”

I could not ask for better partners in exploring this tricky truth than attorney, author, and social entrepreneur Brittany K. Barnett and founder, strategist, and coalition leader Gabrielle Wyatt, who join the podcast for Episode 10, ✨ When the Good Fight Fights Us: Burnout in the Impact Space. ✨

Through personal lenses and stories, Brittany, Gabrielle, and I explore the dilemma of this professional path where, in order to face the enormity of injustice each day, we have to believe that our individual actions can create outsized impact – only to occasionally crumble under the weight and work of those very expectations.

As someone who can always use a thoughtful reminder about their limits, I found this conversation liberating. I hope it helps you find your balance, too.

Watch below or listen to the episode: To hear this episode and explore others, find the Issue Space podcast on Apple, Spotify, and these platforms. Please consider following, sharing, and dropping a review if the content moves you!

Until next time, community,

Also:

I’ve been asking social impact pros –

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