{"id":40332,"date":"2025-01-30T12:04:34","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T20:04:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=40332"},"modified":"2025-01-30T12:09:46","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T20:09:46","slug":"what-is-in-your-margin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/what-is-in-your-margin\/","title":{"rendered":"What is in Your Margin?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cDon\u2019t let your desire to serve others lead you to burnout like I did.\u201d
\n<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2013 An OB-GYN who worked in Asia\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI was so busy working for the Lord that I forgot the Lord of the work.\u201d
\n<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2013 A nurse who served in Africa<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cTheir crisis doesn\u2019t have to be your crisis. You need to maintain a healthy distance to support them effectively.\u201d
\n<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2013 A crisis manager who worked in the Middle East<\/em><\/p>\n

These are just a few of the countless, well-meaning admonitions I received before I moved overseas. Similar warnings were given at every conference I attended, whether it was a missions-oriented conference, a medical conference, or a hybrid of the two. Burnout continues to be a hot topic for both medical careers and those in full-time ministry. According to member care organizations, up to eighty percent of missionaries burnout and do not finish their term.[1]<\/a> The CDC reported that forty-six percent of healthcare workers feel burned out.[2]<\/a> As I prepared to go overseas, the book Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives <\/em>by Dr. Richard Swenson, MD, was recommended. The author gives suggested \u201cprescriptions\u201d for finding margin in different areas of life. This began my quest to find and maintain margin and holistic health and wellness. Last week, I celebrated my twelve-year RIMiversary in the Sahara. God used the wise warnings of others as to the challenges of finding margin to help me learn to thriving here. My quest to find margin has helped shape and form who I have become as a healthcare provider and someone in full-time ministry.<\/p>\n

While reading\u00a0Illuminaire<\/em>, I was particularly struck by Dr. Karise Hutchinson\u2019s reflections on margin. Her article included practical leadership knowledge on margin, a topic I am passionate about and a subject I plan to apply to my prototyping this semester. Dr. Hutchinson also leans heavily into the book Margin, <\/em>a well-worn volume on my bookshelf. Using both Illuminaire <\/em>and Margin<\/em>, I will delve into the definition of margin, why margin is important, and implementing margin.<\/p>\n

Margin= Power – Load<\/strong>[3]<\/a><\/h1>\n

Definition of Margin. <\/strong>In Illuminaire, <\/em>Dr. Hutchinson presents the definition of margin from the book Margin<\/em>.[4]<\/a>Margin is the difference between power and load. Power is defined as energy, skills, time, training, emotional and physical strength, faith, finances, and social support.[5]<\/a>\u00a0 Load includes work, problems, obligations and commitments, internal and external expectations, debt, deadlines, and interpersonal conflicts. We find margin when our power surpasses the weight of our load. No margin or negative margin occurs when our load gets above our power level.[6]<\/a> I once heard the concept of margin in our lives explained through the margins in books. In books, the margin is the white space surrounding the words of the story. The more blank space one has, the greater the opportunity for personal notes and creativity.<\/p>\n

Importance of Margin.<\/strong> When we have white space in our schedules or even in our minds, it allows for the unexpected. Without this white space, the unexpected can lead to devastating consequences in our lives. These repercussions of lacking margin impact our overall health and well-being. The World Health Organization defines health as \u201ca state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.\u201d[7]<\/a> In the article “Healthy Leadership through Integrating the Mind, Body, and Heart,” Dr. Hutchinson emphasizes the necessity of holistic leadership.[8]<\/a> Balancing leadership through the mind, body (gut), and heart provides a holistic approach to leadership. When a leader is healthy, their positivity extends to those they lead and the wider community around them.[9]<\/a> Health and wellness is holistic and multifaceted. Each area affects the other. Leaders often care for the health of others while ignoring their own.[10]<\/a> Margin enables both to happen.<\/p>\n

Implementing Margin. <\/strong>Dr. Hutchinson reminds us, \u201cThe only way to have margin is to reduce load or increase power.\u201d[11]<\/a> The recommended balance suggests that people schedule only 80% of their time, allowing the other 20% to be filled for unexpected things such as emergencies or divine appointments.[12]<\/a> What is your margin percentage in life? Where do you need to lessen your load or boost your power? Perhaps Dr. Swenson\u2019s contrasts between a marginless life and one with margin will help identify areas that need adjustment:<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marginless is fatigue; margin is energy.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marginless is red ink; margin is black ink.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marginless is hurry; margin is calm.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marginless is anxiety; margin is security.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marginless is culture; margin is counterculture.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marginless is the disease of the new millennium; margin is the cure.[13]<\/a><\/p>\n

Conclusion.<\/strong> Which of these resonates with you? What made you feel uncomfortable? Who or what is impacted by your marginlessness? Where is God inviting you to expand the margins in your life? What part of your burden do you need to lighten? Where do you need to increase power? What is He asking you to say \u201cno\u201d to so that you can say \u201cyes\u201d to His unexpected? These are questions I actively reflect on as I continue to make room for margin in my life. This week, margin allowed me to do an urgent medical exam on a two-year-old with croup. Today, margin gave me the opportunity to have lunch with a friend. Tomorrow, margin will create space for me to accept God\u2019s unexpected gifts. Here is a final motivational quote from Dr. Hutchinson: \u201cThe responsibility of the decision [to increase margin] rests with you. I cannot promise it will be easy, but it is truly worth it.\u201d[14]<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

[1]<\/a> \u201cMissionary Care Member,\u201d Free Rain International, 2024, https:\/\/www.freerainint.org\/missionary-care-member.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> \u201cHealth Worker Mental Health Crisis,\u201d Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, October 24, 2023, https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/vitalsigns\/health-worker-mental-health\/index.html.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Dr. Richard A. Swenson, Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives<\/em>, Rev. ed (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2004), 70.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Karise Hutchinson, \u201cFinding and Keeping Margin,\u201d Illuminaire<\/em> 1 (2024): 78.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Swenson, 70.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> \u201cConstitution of the World Health Organization,\u201d World Health Organization, 2020, https:\/\/www.who.int\/about\/governance\/constitution.<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> Hutchinson, \u201cHealthy Leadership through Integrating the Mind, Body, and Heart,\u201d \u00a0Illuminaire<\/em> 1 (2024): 51\u201359.<\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> Ibid., 52.<\/p>\n

[10]<\/a> Hutchinson, \u201cFinding and Keeping Margin,\u201d 78.<\/p>\n

[11]<\/a> Ibid, 78.<\/p>\n

[12]<\/a> Swenson, 70.<\/p>\n

[13]<\/a> Swenson, 13.<\/p>\n

[14]<\/a> Hutchinson, \u201cFinding and Keeping Margin,\u201d 78.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cDon\u2019t let your desire to serve others lead you to burnout like I did.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2013 An OB-GYN who worked in Asia\u00a0 \u201cI was so busy working for the Lord that I forgot the Lord of the work.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":206,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3396,2967],"class_list":["post-40332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-hutchinson","tag-dlgp03","cohort-dlgp03"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/206"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40332"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40332\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40336,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40332\/revisions\/40336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}