To the extent that professionals face an environment with any of the above components, they will probably find it difficult to maintain their professional momentum and will need to work diligently at self renewal. It is impossible to provide a complete list of symptoms of a need for self renewal. However, the presence of any of the following conditions could indicate a serious need for an individual to pursue self-renewing strategies. For some individuals the need for renewal begins with a general feeling of uneasiness. The joy begins to slip away.
Self concept diminishes, and one begins to question the meaning of what one is doing.
Another indication of problems, especially in the case of burnout, is a gradual loss of caring about people they work with. When professors begin to resent being bothered by their students, advisees, or other clients, they are headed for real trouble. Professors cannot allow themselves to write off the very people they are trained to serve. In other instances the people who are affected feel overworked. They sometimes feel that they are not able to complete their responsibilities as well as they would like.