When entering the nonprofit sector, people often find themselves drawn to organizations that align with their values. They feel energized by their passion for the cause and, over time, they develop their career and contribute to the mission of the organization. However, despite their commitment, they can also lose their sense of purpose along the way, getting run-down or burned out. Many people end up lamenting: why did I choose this path for myself? How did I get off track from my original ambition? When did my goal change from striving for impact and change to simply surviving?

If this is you, don’t fret – you are not alone. The key is to find ways to revitalize, reenergize, and renew yourself so you can get back on track. Here are a few tools to renew yourself, described as the three “P’s”: programs, places and people.

Programs: Helping nonprofit leaders take a break from the daily grind

The Metcalf Foundation’s goal is to “enhance the effectiveness of people and organizations working together to help Canadians imagine and build a just, healthy and creative society.” With this in mind, they have created the Metcalf Renewal Program, which supports nonprofit leaders during their career and assists them in maintaining the health of their organizations and communities. The program provides individuals with an opportunity to take a break from the daily grind and allows them to create an infusion of new and vibrant thoughts and ideas. In essence, it is a grant program that focuses on the renewal of individuals within their field. The Renewal Program may include workshop participation, retreat attendance, residencies, research, specialized training, and more.

As Heather Dunford, Grants Manager at the Metcalf Foundation, states, “I think that the idea of professional or vocational renewal can be invigorating. Exposure to new ideas or information and having the space to reflect on those ideas can be transformative. It can generate greater maturity, vitality, and effectiveness for an individual, which can mean increased leadership capacity for their organization and the sector as a whole.” As it relates to the program, Dunford suggests, “The Renewal Program can assist in making these opportunities for professional renewal accessible to individuals in the sector.”

A new report from CompassPoint Nonprofit Services highlights the positive effects that sabbaticals are having on both nonprofit leaders and their organizations in the United States. Among the study’s key findings, researchers found that sabbaticals help increase organizational capacity, play an important role in succession planning, help strengthen organizational governance, and offer important returns for funders.

Places: Helping to relax and heal the body

While sabbatical programs are important for mental renewal, you may just need a short-term retreat from your regular routine. Many retreat programs focus on a mix of mental and physical renewal. One such place is Hollyhock, a leading educational retreat centre on Cortez Island in BC.

As Dana Bass Solomon, Hollyhock CEO, states, “Hollyhock brings remarkable teachers and dynamic social change gatherings together annually. This creates a curriculum for advancing skills and capacity for individuals and organizations. Learning care of the spirit, emotional intelligence, and practical skills, in one place, creates a very unique environment for evolutionary learning.” Lecturers are professionals that address well-being and social change. The centre also has a number of ways for people to relax and recharge physically, including meditation, massages, and kayaking.

Hollyhock is a place to come and rediscover the big picture, a place to revitalize and move forward along your chosen path. As Solomon describes it, “Transformational education becomes tangible, normal, and lasting. Hollyhock delivers tools to bring one back into their daily service.”

People: Helping to support one another

Having identified renewal for the mind and body, we at last turn to the soul. How does one find a happy equilibrium to continue on their chosen path? In order to continually renew yourself, you need to surround yourself with a supportive cast of people. As an anonymous source states, “Revitalization can happen at any time if you choose to surround yourself with the right people. It isn’t simply about self-motivation; it’s about renewing each other.” She continues, “Renewal is an ongoing process and is different for everybody. Therefore, it is important to understand what works best for you when trying to revitalize your career. Try sitting down one evening and, with complete honesty to yourself, try to identify the specific problem and how you ended up off-track from your initial goals. Once you do this, you can objectively look at the situation and recognize how to move forward.”

Having said all of this, there is one thing to remember. Renewal has to come from within; it has to start with yourself and your own desire to reconnect with the aspirations you set out to accomplish. Much like change, renewal has to be something you want to happen, otherwise you are simply just taking a break from your career. Believing in yourself is a key component toward reaching your goals.

Karl Noseworthy is a freelance writer from Newfoundland who currently resides in Kitchener, Ontario. He can be reached at karlnoseworthy@hotmail.com.