I am so human… I got sucked in and allowed myself to feel overwhelm. This is not something I wish to do, but in this mortal existence, it is something we experience. The good news is that we can choose to experience it only occasionally and for short amounts of time instead of making it a constant.
The Story
Yesterday was fabulous. I was fully present as a mother and played at the park with my kids. (When was that last time you were fully engaged in playing with your kids – in kid ways? no phones, no distractions – mind, body and spirit 100% there!)
We stopped at the store on the way home to grab one thing and discovered it was caselot sale and left with so much more. The ones I hold most dear were tired and a bit cranky. It wasn’t the quick and joyful shopping trip I had hoped for. I was an hour late getting home and feeling a bit overwhelmed with all that I knew I needed to get done this week.
We made a quick list on the white board (these are one of my favorite tools) and everyone pitched in to tidy the kitchen and get the groceries in.
I took 10 minutes to go up to my room alone and “repair-o!” – I returned joyful, clear and peaceful!
Let me share with you, how I do it…
MY PROCESS
1- I fall to my knees and pour my heart out to my Father in Heaven (aka God). Tell Him how I am feeling, I ask for forgiveness for where I messed up and invite peace, angels and light to be with me. Then I ask what is most important for me to accomplish. Finding just the next step and doing that will dramatically transform your life. (That is how I am writing this post at 7am on a Friday. It was in my heart and where I was directed as I prayed and pondered this morning.)
2- Take some deep breaths and say aloud, or in your mind…”I choose to release….” I imagine light coming from heaven and filling my whole being with light and peace.
*Note: you can do all this without prayer and inviting God in to heal you, but I have found it is much quicker and more powerful if you include Him. He loves you and wants to be part of your life – the the most loving Father would desire to be with his children, to know their joys and their struggles and to help them in any way possible.
3- I realized where I was feeling the overwhelm. It was my attitude: I have to finish this project… I am behind on this goal…. I need to do the finances… none of things would result in death or catastrophe if they were not completed, yet, they were contributing to my feeling there was just to much to do and not enough hours in the day. (P.S. I have also come to learn that as I am on God’s errand and align my will with his – time expands to support me!)
The Shift
I really only had 10 minutes to shift the energy in my home and I am so grateful that I know how to do it. I went back downstairs where I had about 30 minutes before my son needed to leave for scouts and I needed to make dinner. (we had been gone ALL DAY)
I told the kids we were releasing all the things that we allowed to bring overwhelm- we let go of “have to do” and we were going to now do things we want to do and have JOY! (some may feel this is selfish….the key is choosing to “want” to do the things that are in alignment with your highest and best self.)
“When you change the way you look at things, the things your look at change” – Wayne Dyer
I want to make dinner so my kids have healthy food. I want to clean my kitchen so our house is in order. I want to play with my kids because I love them.
I found a song that my friend posted on Facebook and listened while I cooked. (turkey burger pita tacos in case you were wondering) I cooked, we ate… he was on time.
*NOTE* Social media can be filled with so much goodness and be a source of inspiration if you so choose! (I invite you to look at your feed… make sure you are only posting things that uplift and edify. If you have a lot of negativity, I invite you to un-follow/unfriend those people and you will experience more joy. Let go of overwhelm and comparison.) If you need some joy & inspiration in your life, you can join my fb page and see the resources available on my website. (and opt in so I can send you great stuff)
Try it out!
I invite you to explore your life and your experience of overwhelm:
- What is it you feel you have to / should do/ need to do?
- What is the worst that will happen if you don’t?
- Write it all out on a paper so your brain can rest
- Ask “What is my next step?” Close your eyes, take a deep breath… when you get your answer, go DO IT, then return and repeat.
Life is beautiful. I love that we are always at choice. You can choose a life of joy, passion, and purpose or you can choose judgment, comparison, overwhelm, misery and sadness. Your circumstances are your experience and your feeling are no fact, simply feedback. You can choose the experience you have.
To Your Awesome Life of Joy, Peace and Purpose!
