Guiding others has the potential to be one of the most exhilarating experiences in life. But too frequently, the joy found in leading others becomes suffocated underneath the pile of daily demands and due dates. The pressures leaders experience today often leave them feeling drained and devitalized. Some lead from a position of physical exhaustion. Others serve while emotionally destitute.

Are you leading from a healthy place? Take the following quiz to find out:

1. You are having coffee with your accountability partners when the conversation turns toward a member of your small group. You inwardly agree with the others when they admit disliking her whiny tone and how quickly she becomes emotional.

You…

a) confess your feelings toward her. You love her as a sister in Christ, but sisters can still grate on each other's nerves.

b) don't voice your opinion, but instead suggest there is something in her life story which may cause her to act in this way. After all, you're in her small group and you're privy to details of her life the others aren't.

c) say you don't think she would appreciate being talked about like this. Then you bring up a new topic to discuss.

2. You can't stay awake at your desk and find your eyelids fluttering during conversations. You resolve to get more sleep. Four days into your newfound declaration, you are asked to join the 6:00 a.m. Thursday prayer meeting.

You…

a) decide the benefits of your support of a co-ed prayer meeting outweigh one night a week with a little less sleep.

b) check to see if any other prayer groups meet during the afternoon or evening. Only when you are told no other prayer groups exist, you agree to join the 6:00 a.m. meeting.

c) politely say no. Even though you may receive enough sleep six other nights of the week, you know you don't do your best work with even one night of not enough sleep.

3. You've spilled coffee down your white blouse, your kids fought the entire time they got ready for school, an accident closed down the highway, and you forgot the new ministry proposal on the kitchen table. You open the door to your office only to find the youth group pranked your office…again.

After you stop screaming on the inside, you…

a) speak to your secretary about loaning the high schoolers her copy of the office key. Somebody can get emotionally hurt when pranks escalate out of hand, especially if the person is having a bad day.

b) realize kids will be kids and round up extra hands to help clean up the mess. By the time your office is sparkling, you know you'll be able to laugh.

c) recognize kids will be kids. You round up extra hands to clean up the mess and plot to turn the tables. This time you will prank them!

4. You found an online coupon for one free session of an introductory Pilates class and are pumped to try something new. As you gear up for your session, an emergency phone call takes up your entire afternoon.

You…

a) feel disappointed because you rarely receive the chance to exercise and you don't know when you'll be able to again.

b) were excited for Pilates, but you know this phone call was important and couldn't be helped. Besides, you'll have time for another class soon.

c) know the phone call couldn't be helped. You'll go to the class tomorrow or the day after instead.

If you answered mostly A's: You currently don't see balance as the key to healthy leadership. You may raise boundaries but they fold quickly. Sometimes you feel the temptation to prioritize your work over relationships. Your intentions are great! However, healthy boundaries, priorities, and balance are going to empower you to serve for the long haul in ministry. Are there two or three healthy boundaries you can implement into your schedule? Let those around you know so they can root for you as you continue growing.

If you answered mostly B's: Though you sill have a couple miles ahead, you are on your way to leading from a healthy place. You recognize healthy leadership is about maintaining balance and put in some effort to try to keep the equilibrium, but need to be more firm when it comes to boundaries. Try talking with your loved ones about specific boundaries you can establish and solicit their help to hold you accountable.

If you answered mostly C's: You understand the importance of balance and tend to lead out of a healthy place. You identify boundaries and stick to them. You prioritize loved ones and are willing to defend those you know. You vent steam, but aren't afraid to laugh. You try to groom yourself for the long haul by taking care of your body. Keep up the great work.

Margaret Feinberg (margaretfeinberg.com) is a popular speaker and author of more than two dozen books, including Hungry for God: Hearing His Voice in the Ordinary and the Everyday. You can follow Margaret on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mafeinberg.