# 14. How to Avoid Burnout

Burnout is more common than ever; physical and mental levels of activity become unsustainable and we’re forced to retire out of exhaustion. Not only does it dent our ability to meet our goals and realise our dreams, but the perceived failure creates an inner feeling of defeat and dejection and can permanently damage our morale. The ancient scriptures give three broad principles for avoiding burnout, and, on the positive side, discovering a space where you can thrive: 

Do the Right *Things* – Follow your *dharma* 

Adopt the Right *Lifestyle* – Live in *sattva* 

Embody the Right *Motivation* – Act with *prema* 

Our *dharma*, as previously discussed, refers to our unique psychophysical nature. When we work and function outside of our *dharma* we fail to utilise our strengths and compensate for our weaknesses, and thus become susceptible to burnout. *Prema* denotes ‘love’ - we should aspire for a life where that love drives what we do. We should work for a cause that genuinely moves our heart. It’s crucial to resonate with and have feeling for what we do, and not just work for immediate benefits like money, position, accolade and security. 

Now let’s explore *sattva*. In Chapter Fourteen, Krishna expands upon the concept of the three modes, explaining how a lifestyle built on *sattva* is beneficial from all angles of vision. What we see on a TV screen is an intricate interaction of pixels in three basic colours – red, blue and yellow. They combine in endless combinations to produce images and scenes which enchant our minds. In the same way, the material world, and everything within it, is essentially composed of the three modes of nature – goodness (*sattva*), passion (*rajas*) and ignorance (*tamas*). Everything surrounding us is made of different permutations of these modes, and that in turn creates a permutation within us. 

This framework is powerful, practical and so universal that, when comprehensively understood, can be applied to virtually any aspect of life. How one parents their children, the food we eat, the environment we create around us, the style of leadership and management we adopt, the way we drive our car – everything can, and should, be done in *sattva* for maximum wellbeing. 

When we live in *sattva* we maximise our achievements. The food we eat gives copious amounts of energy and vitality, our leadership brings the best out of the people we serve, and our driving is safe, cost-effective and efficient. Furthermore, on an internal level, living in *sattva* creates an inner harmony and groove that allows us to sustain our activity without becoming fatigued, imbalanced or overwhelmed. When we live in sattva, we guard ourselves against the potential of burnout, which is a natural characteristic of the mode of passion.

### *“*[*From the mode of goodness, real knowledge develops; from the mode of passion, greed develops; and from the mode of ignorance develop foolishness, madness and illusion.”* (Bhagavad-Gita 14.17)](#user-content-fn-1)[^1]

### References

<mark style="background-color:green;">1</mark>[<mark style="background-color:green;">4.5-9 – Fundamental definitions of the three modes of material nature.</mark> ](#user-content-fn-2)[^2]

[<mark style="background-color:green;">14.10 – How the modes are constantly fluctuating and competing.</mark>](#user-content-fn-3)[^3]

[^1]: **Bg. 14.17**\
    \
    सत्त्वात्सञ्जायते ज्ञानं रजसो लोभ एव च ।\
    प्रमादमोहौ तमसो भवतोऽज्ञानमेव च ॥ १७ ॥\
    \
    \&#xNAN;*sattvāt sañjāyate jñānaṁ*\
    \&#xNAN;*rajaso lobha eva ca*\
    \&#xNAN;*pramāda-mohau tamaso*\
    \&#xNAN;*bhavato ’jñānam eva ca*\
    \
    From the mode of goodness, real knowledge develops; from the mode of passion, greed develops; and from the mode of ignorance develop foolishness, madness and illusion.

    Source: [Vedabase](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/14/17/)

[^2]: **Bg. 14.5**

    सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणा: प्रकृतिसम्भवा: ।\
    निबध्‍नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम् ॥ ५ ॥

    *sattvaṁ rajas tama iti*\
    \&#xNAN;*guṇāḥ prakṛti-sambhavāḥ*\
    \&#xNAN;*nibadhnanti mahā-bāho*\
    \&#xNAN;*dehe dehinam avyayam*

    Material nature consists of three modes – goodness, passion and ignorance. When the eternal living entity comes in contact with nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, he becomes conditioned by these modes.

    Source: [Vedabase](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/14/5/)<br>

    **Bg. 14.6**

    तत्र सत्त्वं निर्मलत्वात्प्रकाशकमनामयम् ।\
    सुखसङ्गेन बध्‍नाति ज्ञानसङ्गेन चानघ ॥ ६ ॥

    *tatra sattvaṁ nirmalatvāt*\
    \&#xNAN;*prakāśakam anāmayam*\
    \&#xNAN;*sukha-saṅgena badhnāti*\
    \&#xNAN;*jñāna-saṅgena cānagha*

    O sinless one, the mode of goodness, being purer than the others, is illuminating, and it frees one from all sinful reactions. Those situated in that mode become conditioned by a sense of happiness and knowledge.

    Source: [Vedabase](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/14/6/)

    **Bg. 14.7**

    रजो रागात्मकं विद्धि तृष्णासङ्गसमुद्भ‍वम् ।\
    तन्निबध्‍नाति कौन्तेय कर्मसङ्गेन देहिनम् ॥ ७ ॥

    *rajo rāgātmakaṁ viddhi*\
    \&#xNAN;*tṛṣṇā-saṅga-samudbhavam*\
    \&#xNAN;*tan nibadhnāti kaunteya*\
    \&#xNAN;*karma-saṅgena dehinam*

    The mode of passion is born of unlimited desires and longings, O son of Kuntī, and because of this the embodied living entity is bound to material fruitive actions.

    Source: [Vedabase](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/14/7/)

    **Bg. 14.8**

    तमस्त्वज्ञानजं विद्धि मोहनं सर्वदेहिनाम् ।\
    प्रमादालस्यनिद्राभिस्तन्निबध्‍नाति भारत ॥ ८ ॥

    *tamas tv ajñāna-jaṁ viddhi*\
    \&#xNAN;*mohanaṁ sarva-dehinām*\
    \&#xNAN;*pramādālasya-nidrābhis*\
    \&#xNAN;*tan nibadhnāti bhārata*

    O son of Bharata, know that the mode of darkness, born of ignorance, is the delusion of all embodied living entities. The results of this mode are madness, indolence and sleep, which bind the conditioned soul.

    \
    Source: [Vedabase](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/14/8/)<br>

    **Bg. 14.9**

    सत्त्वं सुखे सञ्जयति रज: कर्मणि भारत ।\
    ज्ञानमावृत्य तु तम: प्रमादे सञ्जयत्युत ॥ ९ ॥

    *sattvaṁ sukhe sañjayati*\
    \&#xNAN;*rajaḥ karmaṇi bhārata*\
    \&#xNAN;*jñānam āvṛtya tu tamaḥ*\
    \&#xNAN;*pramāde sañjayaty uta*

    O son of Bharata, the mode of goodness conditions one to happiness; passion conditions one to fruitive action; and ignorance, covering one’s knowledge, binds one to madness.

    \
    Source: [Vedabase](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/14/9/)

[^3]: **BG 14.10**\
    \
    रजस्तमश्चाभिभूय सत्त्वं भवति भारत ।\
    रज: सत्त्वं तमश्चैव तम: सत्त्वं रजस्तथा ॥ १० ॥\
    \
    \&#xNAN;*rajas tamaś cābhibhūya*\
    \&#xNAN;*sattvaṁ bhavati bhārata*\
    \&#xNAN;*rajaḥ sattvaṁ tamaś caiva*\
    \&#xNAN;*tamaḥ sattvaṁ rajas tathā*\
    \
    Sometimes the mode of goodness becomes prominent, defeating the modes of passion and ignorance, O son of Bharata. Sometimes the mode of passion defeats goodness and ignorance, and at other times ignorance defeats goodness and passion. In this way there is always competition for supremacy.\
    \
    Source: [Vedabase](https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/14/10/)