Cycles and Burnout

I'm forming a theory.

I actually formed it many weeks ago but didn't post it because I couldn't quite get it to make enough sense. The problem is I wrote it to hang on the concept of cycles, when in fact what I describe is far more the concept of 1+2=3. Rather than edit it and risk it losing it's original point, i'll leave it as it is, with this paragraph as a caveat - it doesn't make perfect sense, but it makes a point.

A feeling of dissatisfaction with life doesn't reach big crunches. It ebbs and flows in cycles. The closest to crunch is the burnout, but the burnout tends to be manageable with just a few weeks of variation to provide a new feeling of worth, either in self or surroundings.

This, people, is why people like me, and many, many other people talk a lot about change don't make changes. Many speak of talkers and doers, berating the talker and promoting the doer. This is too simplistic, and yet, it was depressing watching an old Office episode earlier this week to hear a well though out argument about dice. Having first rolled a 3, in playing again, one could roll a 6, but could also roll a 1. Leave the dice alone. This is presented dead pan in comedy, and the intended reaction to this is a feeling of superiority, but this is fear of failure boiled down almost perfectly.

The cycles occur due to balance and inbalance. This sounds almost matrix-like, but hear it out. Fear of failure regulates crunch. Other factors in life drive the cycles. Career, relationships, social life, recreation and i'm sure more are in the mix. I can't tell you how the people with a good record in all areas feel, having never been there. What I do believe is that one on the up will mitigate dissatisfaction with the others.

Who cares how much work sucks when you're enjoying yourself so much?
Who cares if you have no friends if you love your work so much?
Who cares about relationships when they've got good friends?
Who cares about friends, when they've got a good relationship?

Any two, and you can probably be reasonably well balanced. Some people manage 2 a lot of the time. A stunning number of people manage 3. A lot of these people don't think half as much as i'm thinking right now, but they do think they're happy. I'm not going to try to convince them they're not, nor am I remotely convinced that they're not.

With an average of 3 you may dip into 2 territory sometimes, but the 2 remaining will usually keep you afloat long enough to get back to 3. With an average of 2 though, dipping into 1 territory is quite possible.

Once down at 1, it's burnout. The 1 thing that's working is being dragged down by the other things that aren't. You hit a wall. Something has to change. There has to be more than this. Suddenly the thing that was going well seems insignificant.

One good night out later (for example), suddenly nothing seems as bad. Somehow a good night out has convinced you that the other thing that you burnt out on a few days ago isn't actually as bad as you thought it was.

Unfortunately, the two things aren't related. The other thing was as bad as you thought it was, but you've managed to avoid the difficult bit.

Congratulations. Welcome to the beginning of the cycle.