People who learned that love was conditional don’t experience burnout as fatigue alone. Burnout feels like collapse. Not because they’re tired—but because the role they relied on to stay connected is suddenly unavailable.
The “strong one.”
The “reliable one.”
The person everyone leans on.
These roles aren’t chosen. They’re assigned early and reinforced often.
Most people think preparation is always a virtue.
Plan more. Refine longer. Rehearse until nothing can go wrong. On the surface, it looks responsible—professional even. But beneath that polish, a quieter motive often drives the behavior: protection.
Over-preparation isn’t a sign of competency. It’s fear of failure masquerading as conviction of process.
