Something in the way you’re living or working no longer feels sustainable…
Discover Where You Are in the Depletion → Fulfillment™ Model
..not because you aren’t capable. But because you’re starting to notice the patterns behind how things keep unfolding.
If you’re willing to look honestly at what’s beneath the surface, you can begin here.
This assessment isn’t designed to motivate you or give you a quick answer. It’s designed to help you see more clearly… especially the parts that are easy to overlook.
Depletion
✳︎
Resolve
✳︎
Deflation
✳︎
Reflection
✳︎
Reflection Relapse
✳︎
Depletion ✳︎ Resolve ✳︎ Deflation ✳︎ Reflection ✳︎ Reflection Relapse ✳︎
If any of this sounds familiar…
-
From the outside, things look good — you’ve worked hard, built credibility, and people rely on you. Yet underneath the accomplishments, your energy feels depleted more often than it feels renewed.
-
Your instinct when things feel off is to double down and work harder, believing the breakthrough must be just ahead. But instead of satisfaction, the extra effort often leaves you feeling even further away from the sense of purpose or meaning you’re seeking.
-
Somewhere inside, you sense that your leadership could feel more aligned, focused, and powerful than it does today. You can glimpse the leader you know you’re capable of being, but something keeps getting in the way of accessing that clarity consistently.
-
Instead of leading from a grounded place of choice, you sometimes find yourself responding to pressures, expectations, and urgent demands. Over time, that reactivity can create a feeling that your leadership is being shaped by circumstances rather than by your deeper intentions and values.
…then you may be caught in The Depletion Loop™.
Review the stages and self-assess where you are.
The Depletion → Fulfillment™ Model
This model comes from my personal experience and coaching many modern day leaders and employees for the past 20 years.
Most burnout doesn’t happen all at once.
It unfolds through a predictable cycle that many high-achieving leaders unknowingly repeat.
The Depletion → Fulfillment™ model makes that cycle visible so you can recognize where you are — and begin moving toward a more aligned and energized way of leading.
For this reflection exercise, we focus on the three stages most leaders recognize first: Depletion, Resolve, and Deflation
Before you begin, ask yourself:
• When was the last time your leadership felt energizing?
• Are you solving the same problems again and again?
• Do you ever feel like you’re succeeding externally but depleted internally?
Review the Framework Descriptions and Identify Your Current Stage
Most leaders recognize themselves in more than one stage. Choose the one that feels most true right now.
Depletion
Energy Leak & Misalignment
I feel tired in a way that rest alone doesn’t seem to fix.
I’ve achieved things I once wanted, but they don’t feel as fulfilling as I expected.
My calendar feels full, yet my days feel oddly empty or disconnected.
I find myself pushing through discomfort instead of listening to it.
I feel a quiet sense of resentment toward responsibilities I once chose willingly.
I’ve started to wonder, “Is this really it?”
I feel less creative, curious, or inspired than I used to.
Resolve
Pushing, Managing, White-Knuckling
When things feel off, my instinct is to work harder or get more disciplined.
I believe if I could just get more organized, things would feel better.
I often tell myself to be grateful instead of admitting something feels wrong.
I take pride in being capable, even when it costs me emotionally or physically.
I delay making changes because I don’t want to disappoint others.
I’ve tried self-care solutions, but they haven’t addressed the deeper issue.
I’m searching for the right book, podcast, something, anything to help me avoid feeling depleted (if I can recognize it for that…)
Deflation
Loss of Meaning & Quiet Disengagement
The disappointment when the efforts or self talk in the ‘resolve’ stage aren’t working.
I feel less motivated by goals that used to drive me.
I sometimes go through the motions without feeling fully present.
I question my own judgment more than I used to.
I feel disconnected from my sense of purpose or “why.”
I’ve noticed a subtle numbness or emotional flatness.
I feel alone in what I’m experiencing, even if I don’t talk about it.
Which stage are you in right now?
Enter your email below for the stage you are experiencing and I’ll send you the Depletion → Fulfillment workbook that corresponds with this stage.
Note that entering your email will add your name and email to our list for newsletters and other marketing materials, unsubscribe at anytime if the content doesn’t serve your needs! We’re glad you’re here and we welcome you to the worthwhile journey to fulfillment!
About the Creator
Joanna Douglas is an executive coach, Enneagram professional, and conscious leadership speaker who helps leaders reconnect with clarity, confidence, and personal power. After more than two decades working in corporate leadership, Joanna recognized a pattern many high-achieving professionals experience: periods of intense effort followed by exhaustion, frustration, and the feeling that fulfillment keeps slipping further away.
Drawing on her leadership experience, coaching practice, and deep work in emotional intelligence and the Enneagram, Joanna developed the Depletion → Fulfillment™ Model to help leaders recognize the cycles that quietly drain their energy and impact. Today she works with individuals and organizations to cultivate greater awareness, resilience, and fulfillment in leadership and life.