Always helping others while possibly running on empty 🫗

Hello Reader,

Have you ever found yourself giving and giving until there's nothing left? Or maybe you know someone like this.

Let me introduce you to the first profile in our Named and Reclaimed: Overcoming Hope Depletion series, The Relentless Giver.

🔍 PROFILE CHARACTERISTICS

You know The Relentless Giver is someone who consistently prioritizes others' needs above their own. You might recognize this pattern if you:

😴 Feel physically exhausted even after adequate sleep.

🔄 Say "yes" automatically, even when you want to say "no."

😤 Experience unexpected irritability when asked for "one more thing."

😔 Feel guilty when prioritizing your own needs.

🙅‍♀️ Struggle to accept help or compliments.

This isn't just physical tiredness—it's hope depletion. And it requires more than just rest to restore.

🤔 REFLECTION QUESTIONS

You can ask these of yourself, with a friend, or a group of colleagues.

When was the last time you declined a request without apologizing?
If you disappeared for a week, whose needs would go unmet?
Do you feel more comfortable giving a gift than receiving one?
Has anyone ever described you as a "martyr" or told you to "stop doing so much"?

🧪 THE HOPE SCIENCE

Research shows that sustainable giving is only possible when balanced with receiving. When you consistently override your own needs, you deplete not just your energy but your hope reserves. And hope is essential fuel for meaningful engagement with life and people.

Through Hope Science, we discover that reciprocity isn't selfish—it's necessary. Just as ecosystems require both giving and receiving to thrive, so does your capacity to contribute meaningfully to others.

🌱 HOPE PRACTICES

If you recognize yourself in this profile, here are three evidence-based practices to begin restoring your hope:

🛑 The Sacred No Challenge yourself to decline 3 requests weekly without explanation or apology. Start small—this is a muscle that needs gradual strengthening.

👐 Receiving Practice Accept help with one task daily without immediately reciprocating or diminishing the offer ("Oh, it's nothing, I could have done it myself").

📅 Self-Care Scheduling Block non-negotiable restoration time with the same priority as commitments to others. Put it on your calendar and honor it like you would an important meeting.

💡 KEY TAKEAWAY

Your capacity to give meaningfully depends on your willingness to receive.

The most generous people aren't those who give until they're empty—they're those who maintain their wellbeing so they can give from abundance.

The path of sustainable giving includes receiving.

✨ READY FOR DEEPER RESTORATION?

Naming these patterns is powerful—but it's just the first step. If you're ready to move beyond recognition to restoration, I invite you to join our June Cohort of "Cultivating Hope: A 21-Day Transformative Journey" to restore your hope starting Monday, June 9th.

In this guided experience, you'll:

Discover personalized hope restoration practices.
Join a community of compassionate and supportive people.
Develop sustainable habits that protect and nourish your hope reserves.
Move from depletion to abundance in your relationships and work.

[➡️ LEARN MORE ABOUT THE JUNE COHORT]

Space is limited to ensure a meaningful experience for all participants.

With gratitude...and hope!

Kevin

P.S. If someone in your circle seems to be experiencing one of these patterns, please forward this email. Sometimes, just having language for our experience is the first step toward recovery.

P.P.S. In the days leading up to the Cultivating Hope June Cohort, I'll share hope restoration practices for each profile. The journey back to hope is possible—and it begins with recognition. Here's where you can join the June Cohort if you're ready to reclaim hope.