Your former colleagues see your potential but do not see, or choose not to see, the rest of you. The rest of you that's messy. The rest of you that cannot operate at a high level for long periods. The rest of you that's just f--king done.

Your former colleagues have stamina in spades - or at least, more than you do - and imagine a perfect individual that combines their stamina with your enviable potential.

But, that person does not exist. Or at least, if they do, that person isn't you.

There's no point running yourself into the ground trying to meet an ideal that only exists in the minds of other people.

Don't buy into their idealism. At least, not until you're sure you can be the person they think you can be.

Source: I was in a similar situation, but kept going, burned out and am not OK.