{"id":30769,"date":"2023-12-21T15:04:15","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T22:04:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baonline.cog7engage.net\/?p=30769"},"modified":"2023-12-21T15:04:15","modified_gmt":"2023-12-21T22:04:15","slug":"are-you-an-emotionally-healthy-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baonline.cog7engage.net\/are-you-an-emotionally-healthy-leader\/","title":{"rendered":"Are You an Emotionally Healthy Leader?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cBe sure to secure your own mask before assisting others.\u201d You\u2019ve heard this instruction about oxygen masks every time you are waiting for your airplane to take off. Is it just me, or does this just rub you the wrong way, too?<\/p>\n

Hopefully you have been trained to help others<\/a> and desire to put others before yourself (Ro. 12:3, 10), especially when it comes to your own children! If my child needs oxygen, I don\u2019t want to be messing around with my own mask while my son is passing out. What kind of father would I be?<\/p>\n

But I get it. I can\u2019t help someone else if I have just passed out myself.<\/p>\n

This is Peter Scazzero\u2019s<\/a> premise in his book, The Emotionally Healthy Leader<\/em><\/a>. It should go without saying that I cannot take care of others if I am not even fit to take care of myself.<\/p>\n

The Need To Recharge and Refresh<\/h3>\n

As much as Jesus preached about serving others (Mk. 10:43-45), He also understood the need to recharge and refresh with a good, healthy balance (Lk. 5:16, Mk. 6:31).<\/p>\n

Scazzero says, \u201cIt wasn\u2019t until I understood that these beneath-the-surface components of my life had not been transformed by Jesus that I discovered the inseparable link between emotional health and spiritual maturity \u2013 that it is not possible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.\u201d[1]<\/a><\/p>\n

Jesus explains this principle as well when speaking of the greatest commandments \u2013 \u201cAnd you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength\u201d (Mk. 12:30 ESV). Our bodies are a conglomerated mess of physical, social, emotional, mental, and spiritual elements. All are intertwined and depend upon one another. Growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus must involve maturity in all of these areas.<\/p>\n

Are You an Unhealthy Leader?<\/h3>\n

It is very common to speak about burnout, especially among pastoral circles. Burnout \u2013 physical or emotional exhaustion caused by busyness, stress, frustration, and the like \u2013 can happen to anyone. Jesus knew this, calling us to find our rest in Him (Mt. 11:28-30).<\/p>\n

[bctt tweet=”Jesus calls us to find our rest in Him. \u2013 Kurt Lang” via=”no”]<\/p>\n

Characteristics of an unhealthy leader include low self-awareness, prioritizing ministry over marriage\/singleness (your own life priorities), doing more activity for God than your relationship with God can sustain, and an improper work\/Sabbath rhythm<\/a>.[2]<\/a><\/p>\n

Has burnout, or unhealthy leadership, characterized you at any time? Does it speak of you now?<\/p>\n

\u201cThe emotionally unhealthy leader is someone who operates in a continuous state of emotional and spiritual deficit, lacking emotional maturity and a \u2018being with God\u2019 sufficient to sustain their \u2018doing for God.\u2019\u201d[3]<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cBeing\u201d over \u201cDoing\u201d<\/h3>\n

In his book, The Call<\/a>, Os Guinness speaks of being and doing in his description of our primary and secondary calling. God calls us, first and foremost, into a relationship with Him. We are called to be His child and live in His Presence. Secondarily, in order and importance, is our call to do \u2013 to show to others through our word and deed, who is this God of ours. We are to know Him (know who we are in Him) and then make Him known (declare Him to others.)[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

Scazzero uses the picture of a tree to exemplify the aspects of the inner (being) and outer (doing) life. The inner life is our foundation, the roots of the tree underground that others cannot see but that are vitally important to the life of the tree. The outer life is the branches, leaves and fruit above ground that are visible to the world around us. When the roots are healthy, the tree will be lush and full, overflowing with fruit.<\/p>\n

Are You Healthy?<\/h3>\n

Jesus reminds us that we must focus on ourselves and our relationship with Him first. Then, and only then, will anything we do for Him find meaning.<\/p>\n

21\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u201cNot everyone who\u00a0says to me, \u2018Lord, Lord,\u2019 will\u00a0enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who\u00a0does the will of my Father who is in heaven.\u00a022<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>On that day\u00a0many will say to me, \u2018Lord, Lord, did we not\u00a0prophesy in your name, and cast out demons\u00a0in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?\u2019\u00a023<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>And then will I declare to them, \u2018I\u00a0never knew you;\u00a0depart from me,\u00a0you workers of lawlessness\u2019\u201d (Matthew 7:21-23).<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t let Jesus\u2019 description speak of you. Let your roots grow deep in Him, so that the fruit you offer to others will be healthy and sweet.<\/p>\n

[bctt tweet=”\u201dLet your roots grow deep in Jesus. \u2013 Kurt Lang” via=”no”]<\/p>\n

Fasten your seat belt low and tight across your waist. Then sit back and enjoy the ride! Always remember, in this relationship with Jesus, you are the passenger. Let Jesus fly the plane. He will get you safely to your destination.<\/p>\n

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Learn more about how you can avoid stress and burnout, and provide a healthy example for others, by enrolling in Artios Christian College\u2019s LEA 211 The Leader\u2019s Emotional Health course. <\/em><\/p>\n