I sipped my coffee from the couch while 45-60 mph winds gusted outside. Snow was falling, trees were bending, and out of the corner of my eye, a tree trunk crept into my window view. Then…a thundering crack!
This four-story-tall tree came crashing into my neighbor’s yard, miraculously damaging nothing. Not even the trampoline that his kids have outgrown…much to his dismay.
The next morning, together in clean-up mode, I learned that the tree had some rot, the bark was peeling off, and the roots were withered. Due to disease, the strength of this tree had been chipped away over the years, and this wind was the final blow.
There is a new workplace term called “quiet cracking”. Have you heard of it?
“Quiet quitting” used to be the buzz. Essentially, going through the motions at work, executing at a bare minimum level, and opting out of extra hours or additional effort. It’s disengagement, while still keeping up appearances.
But quiet cracking, this is different.
It’s when you care so much that you muster extra effort to keep it all together and end up internalizing the stress. You hide the pressure, overwhelm, and burnout so well, nobody knows the severity of what’s happening. And under the weight of it all, what’s left to break? Unfortunately, you.
The tree knows this story.
Disease attacked, and nobody could see the roots decaying below the surface. From the inside out, the tree’s strength and protection had been weakening for quite a while…the windstorm confirmed the evidence.
In humans, the person musters up energy for the team or the project, depleting their own reserves. Mental health and wellness take a hit. And bit by bit, in an effort to hold it all together, they crack inside.
How do you know if you’re here? Here are a few check-in questions:
- How often are you getting through your days by pushing (instead of feeling supported)?
- How long have you been saying, “Work is crazy right now”?
- What small frustrations have started to feel heavier than they used to?
- How much responsibility are you carrying that you’re NOT talking about?
- When was the last time rest felt restorative?
- When you imagine things continuing exactly like this, how does your body or mind respond?
If someone offered you space to talk—without fixing, judging, or advising—would that feel like a relief? Click the link below to schedule a time:
Make it a great day!
Halle
Plus a few other links of interest:
1. Could your team benefit from upgrading their leadership? Inquire about Leadership Essentials Academy, a 6-month leadership training & coaching cohort for new and emerging leaders.
2. Time for a new journal? Pick up a new copy of my Know Thyself Journal for daily support towards your most important intentions for the next 90 days.
3. Are you into individual assessments? Here is a link to take a free Core Values Assessment (CVI). It only takes 10 minutes and measures your innate, unchanging nature. Take it yourself and feel free to forward it to a friend, too.