5 Things To Do If You Are Overly Invested In Ministry

In our last article we looked at 10 signs that you might be overly invested in your ministry.  We noted that you can easily let your ministry dictate your happiness, identity and well-being. And that emotional investment in your ministry is only healthy to a degree, that when it goes overboard telltale problem behaviors begin to surface. When you see these behaviors in your own life it is time to pay attention, get to the bottom of it and start choosing healthier behaviors. Here are some ideas to get you started.

5 Tips For Alleviating Over Investment In Your Ministry

Remind Yourself. Undeniably, your ministry is an important part of your life. But it’s not the only important thing in your life. It’s not even the most important thing—though it might feel that way at times. Take time to reflect and write down what you feel are the most important things in your life other than your ministry.

Pinpoint The Problem: Rather than thinking of your ministry in general terms, start thinking more specifically about the various aspects of your ministry. Where might you be overly invested, in key relationships, critical responsibilities, favorite programs, or problem areas? In other words, follow the evidence to find out what aspects of your ministry trigger over investment and then strive to dial back your level of engagement.

Assess Your Boundaries. Over investment in ministry is often a result of the failure to establish or maintain healthy boundaries. Pay particular attention to work/life boundaries to see if they need shoring up.

Cultivate Your Identity Outside Of Work. List the identities you have outside of ministry, such as spouse, parent, guitarist, artist, gardener, coach, golfer or jogger. Strive to view your identity more holistically and invest quality time in each identity. Consider experimenting with other identities that interest you.

Make Time For Recovery Experiences. Over investment in ministry is draining. You need something outside of ministry to help you recover. Document what you do outside of work that you enjoy. This may include leisure activities, relationships, and experiences outside of ministry that you find replenishing and life giving. Making more time for these in your schedule can help you to mentally and physically disconnect from work and reverse the effects of over investment.

While caring deeply about your ministry is an enviable quality, being too emotionally invested can be detrimental to your professional, personal and spiritual life. By noticing the signs of over investment and then taking steps to prevent over investment before it starts, you can keep your level of emotional investment in your ministry in check so that you can live abundantly professionally, personally and spiritually.

Posted on December 20, 2022