Burnout is real. It can also be a tricky devil, misleading us into believing that what we need is more rest. 

I believe it’s something else altogether. The antidote to exhaustion is living life with more gusto and gumption. You know, jumping in with both feet rather than tippy-toeing in from the sidelines?

Life’s a lot like poker, sometimes you just gotta go all-in.

This profound quote from the brilliant philosopher and poet David Whyte makes me rethink exhaustion and burnout altogether:

“The antidote to exhaustion isn’t necessarily rest. It’s wholeheartedness.”

Or, as Tug McGraw, the Mets pitcher known for his relentless energy on the way to an improbable World Series championship, said: “Ya gotta believe!”

Counterintuitive, isn’t it? We’re trained to believe that burnout comes from doing too much, moving too fast, and giving too freely. But maybe the real drain doesn’t come from overexertion. It comes from underliving and a lack of belief.

So many of us live life in a kind of half-on mode. We go through the motions, ticking boxes, fulfilling obligations, oftentimes holding a piece of ourselves back. We tell ourselves we’re being realistic, careful or even practical. We stay outside the edges of our own lives — watching, waiting, and withholding.

That takes a heck of a lot of energy. 

Here’s the truth:

Life isn’t meant to be half-assed. It’s meant to be all in.

Wholehearted living isn’t about hustle culture or doing more. It’s about being more present and aligning with your soul. It’s saying yes to the dreams that scare you, the conversations that truly matter, and to the paths that light you up.

When we live life with half our heart, we constantly feel the tug of what we’re not doing or who we’re not being. That tug, that internal tension, is what exhausts us. You see, it’s not the doing, it’s the resisting and the worrying.

Wholeheartedness is the secret sauce we’ve been  searching for that makes us feel more alive.

Here are three steps to help you live more wholeheartedly:

1. Identify your “half-hearted” zones

Ask yourself: Where am I playing small or just going through the motions? Be honest. What’s draining your energy that you can let go of?

2. Choose one area to go all in

Pick one area of your life — your passion, a relationship, a project — and commit to showing up fully this week.

3. Let passion be your power source to notice what energizes you.

Follow that spark. That’s your soul saying, this way, please. And pay attention to where you might be dimming your light to fit in or to play it safe.

What would it look like to go all in, not recklessly, but intentionally and courageously?

Maybe it’s launching that business idea you’ve been holding onto. Maybe it’s calling the friend you’ve been thinking about every day. Maybe it’s showing up more fully in your relationships, your purpose, or your presence.

Because the truth is, wholehearted living isn’t about adding more to your plate. It’s about aligning your energy with your truth.

This week, choose one area of your life to go all in. Just one. And watch what happens.

Because maybe you don’t need another nap.

Maybe ya just gotta believe — and go all-in!