The Warning Signs of An Empty Resilience Tank

  • Author: Adam Markel
  • Encinitas, CA, USA
Read the news article

What are the warning signs of an empty resilience tank?

HOW TO KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO PAUSE

In my experience, there are four primary indicators that tend to show up each time my resilience tank is running low. They don’t always show up in the same order but, without fail, they will show up one after the other, until I have no choice but to pause and take inventory.

Too Tired to Rest

The first indicator that usually shows up is full-on exhaustion with its best friend overwhelm. You’ll be struggling just to keep up, let alone get ahead. This is a sign that you’re trying to do too much and you’re spread too thin. This vulnerable position doesn’t leave much space for resilience or rest, healing or clarity.

With Exhaustion Comes Doubt

The second indicator that shows up when we start to lack clarity, Empty Resilience or peace is doubt. You’ll start to doubt yourself about things you were certain about yesterday. You’ll wonder if you’re really cut out for this. You’ll question your abilities and your decisions. This is a sign that you’re losing confidence in yourself – and that your resilience tank is running low.

And Then Everything Becomes Unsteady

The Warning Signs of An Empty Resilience Tank

The third indicator that typically shows up once we start experiencing self-doubt is how much change rocks our world- not in a good way.  You’ll find it harder and harder to adapt to change, no matter how big or how small. The world around you will seem to be moving faster and you’ll feel like you’re falling behind. This is a sign that you’re no longer able to adapt as quickly as you need to and one of the warning signs I talk about in my new book, Change Proof. This feeling of being left behind or unable to keep up is symptomatic of a low resilience reserve.

Lastly, you’ll start to see yourself as separate from others. You’ll feel isolated and alone. You won’t feel like part of a team or a community anymore. Your level of self-pity will be increasing with each day and your brain will be hazy, wondering how you spiraled to this point so quickly. When you’ve lost your connection to others, life can seem very bleak.

Avoiding the Inevitable of Empty Resilience

These are just some of the warning signs of an empty resilience tank. And living through this cycle in my personal life for many years is what brought me to the work I’m doing now. This cycle of burnout, due to an empty resilience tank, can be avoided.

In fact, people who keep their resilience tank full (Change Proof peeps!) often avoid the cycle altogether because they are consciously taking time each day and week to reset and refill that resilience tank.

In a world where rapid change is now our near-daily norm, it’s important to get ahead of these cycles that take over our lives, sometimes without us even realizing it, until we’re in the midst of chaos, trying to figure out how to get back on stable ground.

Resilience is the one quality that provides us the ability to recover quickly from setbacks, adapt to change, and keep going even when the going gets tough. Empty Resilience is a skill that can be developed, which requires practice and attention.

If you or your team are experiencing any of these Empty Resilience warning signs, it’s time to take action like engaging with a resilience or leadership keynote speaker and take care of your resilience tank, so you can take on each day with a clear mind and a strong resolve.

ARTICLE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON ADAM MARKEL BLOG

 

Contact us at Speakers Inc and follow us on Twitter

Further articles you may enjoy:

  • (4)

JUSTICE MALALA MEET THE SPEAKER is a political commentator and current affairs keynote speaker, newspaper columnist and author of the Number One South African bestseller “We Have Now Begun Our Descent”. He is rated as the top African political / economic analyst in South Africa Malala writes regular weekly columns for The Times online newspaper […]

  • January 2, 2023
  • (16)

Are you guilty of multi-tasking during meetings? Unfortunately, being present during meetings, especially present-day Virtual meetings, is so rare, I wish I could bottle and sell it.   Here’s a few facts you can toss around the tele-conferencing office (Source: Prezi State of Attention Research): In any online meeting about 95 percent of the audience is probably multi-tasking. The […]

  • January 18, 2023
  • (6)

Embracing Digital Leadership: The Journey of Erik Qualman, aka “Equalman” Erik Qualman, widely recognized as “Equalman,” stands as a beacon of digital leadership and transformation. His work, which spans keynote speaking, bestselling authorship, and digital expertise, has profoundly influenced the realms of social media and digital transformation. Equalman’s journey is a testament to the power […]

  • July 12, 2024
  • (19)

The Mindset That Moves Mountains: 5 Speakers Who Turned Adversity into Power What if the next speaker you booked didn’t just deliver a keynote… …but ignited a fire inside every person in the room? ⚠️ These aren’t just speakers. They’re survivors, warriors, and visionaries who turned tragedy into triumph. They didn’t just “overcome adversity.” They […]

  • April 16, 2025
  • (70)

Elizabeth McCormick’s journey to becoming a renowned speaker is rooted in her remarkable career in the military. As a Black Hawk Helicopter Pilot, she faced challenges and triumphs that shaped her into the inspiring leader she is today. Rising through the ranks to become Chief Warrant Officer 2, Elizabeth honed her skills in leadership, resilience, […]

  • June 24, 2024
  • (19)

The Essence of Authentic Leadership: Embracing Genuine Influence with Erin Hatzikostas In an era where leadership is often synonymous with corporate jargon and pretense, the concept of authentic leadership emerges as a beacon of hope and integrity. Authentic leadership transcends traditional leadership paradigms by emphasizing transparency, genuine relationships, and a commitment to personal and organizational […]

  • July 29, 2024
  • (12)

Hey there, are you a white person wondering what to do as an ally for Black people right now? A lot of my white friends have been asking, you’re not alone. I’ve received several questions from friends wanting to do something so I thought I’d compile these all on one place. This is the work […]

  • March 10, 2023
  • (11)

Mastering Nonverbal Communication: The Transformative Power of Body Language Coaching with Kristin Bock In our fast-paced, communication-heavy world, mastering the art of nonverbal communication can be a game-changer. Enter Kristin Bock, a body language expert and founder of Body Language Blueprints, who helps professionals leverage nonverbal cues to enhance their personal and professional interactions. In […]

  • July 15, 2024

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel