If work is your only burner, what happens when it flickers out?

The Four Burners Theory says we have four life burners: Work, Family, Friends, and Health.

You can’t run all of them at full flame—so most of us turn a few down to keep work burning bright.

This is common in helping professions—and in federal or foreign service—where the work feels urgent and meaningful.

But when work dims (burnout, job loss, or just a shift in identity), people often realize how much they’ve neglected the rest. And turning those burners back on? It takes time, intention, and care.

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