Break Up With Overwhelm
Have you ever felt like you are just overwhelmed with things to do and the idea of…
Slowing Down
Being Present
Feeling Calm
Being at Ease
Calming Your Nervous System
Breathing Easy
…feels like a pipe dream?
Friend. I understand so much.
I am a Recovering Type A Stress Addict. I used to run around like a chicken with my head cut off and was constantly saying, “I’m so busy!” and “I am so overwhelmed.”
This was my state of being all of the time.
Is this you? How does your overwhelm feel in your body?
In my body it felt like my brain was whirring, shoulders up around my ears and my tummy is clenched. My heartbeat was fast or irregular. And when I finally sat down I was exhausted. My anxiety would feel like it was choking me and the only peace I felt was for the moment just after I woke up…for like a minute.
I have such compassion for Old Sarah. She was doing her best with what she knew then. And now I know better.
Here are tools I have integrated – maybe they’ll help you too.
1) The Gift of 1 Breath.
A whole breath practice felt like too much and frankly it kind of freaked me out. It took too much time and it felt more stressful to make time for a breath practice.
Instead, I started giving myself ONE BREATH. Just one.
Even now, when my kids hear me take a full deep breath, will ask “You ok Mom?” (sweet hearts.)
BUT EVEN COOLER…
My youngest just said to me that when her anxiety is firing up, she notices her breath is shortened. I asked, “What do you do?”
She said, “I take one, slow deep breath.” (Mom win.)
Just one breath woven throughout your day can start planting the seeds of Calm.
2) Notice Your Words.
When you say “I’m so overwhelmed” Or “I’m so busy” you are spellcasting. You are creating your own reality with your words. You are using the age old magical practice of speaking your desires into reality.
Stop.
Instead, start considering the power of your words and their effect on your life. How could you say other things?
“I am calm.”
“I am at ease.”
“Everything works out for me.”
“Easy breezy.”
Watch how this simple shift will start changing your perception.
3) Break Up with Overwhelm.
Overwhelm is a choice.
Hear me out.
If you can present enough in your life, you can make choices about how you respond.
Look at overwhelm like a rabbit hole. Before you jump down the rabbit hole, make a conscious choice of either:
“I am going to feel overwhelmed.”
Or
“I am going to feel something different -instead I’m going to feel curious. Or calm. Or excited.”
Be conscious in your choice of feelings.
This is a practice. But it starts to teach you that you are the dog wagging the tail instead of the tail wagging the dog of your feelings. You are the boss of your feelings.
Feelings are the ripples on the water – they come and they go. YOU ARE THE BODY OF WATER.
4) The Gift of NO.
You get to say no.
And truly? Saying NO is a gift to yourself.
If you feel guilty or feel like you “should” be agreeing to do something you don’t really want to do, consider this.
Stop Should-ing all over yourself.
Guilt is a learned emotion.
Try adding a ‘thank you’ to your No. It softens it and is polite. “No thank you.”
Calm is your birthright.
Ease is your birthright.
Make a real attempt at weaving them into your life.
You are so worthy.
Want to learn more about Calm? 3 CHOICES:
1) Click and grab my my FREE 3 Day Wellness Jumpstart which includes a breath practice.
2) My Calm Course gives you SO MANY TOOLS to support your ease.
3) Click HERE to sign up for the Fall Cohort of Whole – A Formula for Wellbeing. A whole pillar is devoted to teaching you how to weave Calm into your life (there are 4 Pillars – Nourish, Move, Calm, & Love.)
So much peace,
Sarah