Sometimes, life brings all the challenges to you at once. Something unexpected happens, and then all of the sudden more issues arise. It's like the universe decides to test your capacity to handle challenges and see how strong you can be before you fall apart.
The worst is when you are already down; I like to call it "down the mood elevator." You are alone with your thoughts and worries, and then more negative thoughts start to take over your mind, and you find yourself in a hole that you can't really climb out of.
It's such a tough place to be in and very difficult to get out of. You might even feel unsure about asking for help because of the fear of appearing weak or that you might be criticized or judged. You become so overwhelmed with the feelings, thoughts, and emotions that it's paralyzing. As a result, you might even agonize longer than necessary because you can't make decisions or take control of the situation.
If what I'm describing resonates with you, don't worry. You're not alone. I have been there too! It is easy to fall into a state of overwhelm when we face many challenges at once, but the good news is that you can learn how to embrace what you are feeling and going through and move towards a more positive state with some work of being.
“You can’t calm the storm, so stop trying.
What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.”
Timber Hawkeye
Here are eight proven steps you can take to help you minimize overwhelming feelings, get clarity, and feel empowered to overcome challenges.
1) Let it all out: holding things in won't help you, so I recommend that you grab a piece of paper or journal and write all of your concerns down. Make a list of the challenges you are facing, the feelings you are experiencing, and the thoughts that are overwhelming your mind. Write like there's no end to the paper, do so until you can breathe better. You'll start to feel like the weight is lifted off your shoulders, and you'll begin to lighter. Then put your list away and let things sink in.
The next step is to go back to your list of feelings and thoughts and work on re-framing them. Look at ways that you can change them to more positive statements. For example, if you think, "I'll never find a job," which causes you to fear, then try changing that phrase to "Now I can search for my dream job" and feel hopeful. Re-framing is a great way to influence our mindset and move into a more powerful place. Of course, this is easier said than done. Therefore, you must wait until you feel ready for that step.
2) Manage one crisis at a time: grab your journal and prioritize, figure out the most crucial thing you need to take care of, and focus on that first. Part of the reason we become overwhelmed is having competing priorities or trying to solve many problems at once. Chances are that once you start to think things through, you will be able to identify that you don't have to solve everything at once.
"We suffer more often in imagination than in reality."
Seneca
3) Allow yourself to dwell: some people tend to push through situations and not allow themselves to experience their feelings or even grieve. They might find this unproductive or a waste of time, and they jump quickly into problem-solving mode and don't take the time to address the root cause. Only to repress their feelings so much that they get a breaking point when they reach their limits. It is ok to allow yourself to dwell; it's healthy. It will enable you to experience what others might have and increase your empathy. It also helps you recognize how a particular situation impacts you and makes finding a solution easier. Just don't stay there too long; know when it's time to move on and start taking some steps that will help you get to a better state of mind.
4)Ask for help: be comfortable asking for help. As a type-A personality myself, I think I can do it all. But that's exhausting, and besides, so many people care about you and are there to help you when you are ready. They will feel valued that you asked, and their compassion and love will help you feel empowered.
5)Become aware of self-inflicted pain: be conscious of your thoughts and actions. Are you the reason behind some of your challenges? Are you overthinking everything and spending too much time imagining the worst?
Perhaps, you are taking on too much, or you are having a hard time saying "no" and taking on other people's responsibilities. Being aware of this key, most of the time, we can hinder
our progress or well-being because we fail to recognize our tendencies.
6)Stay away from negative people: you know who I'm talking about; we all have at least one person in our lives that we avoid talking to sometimes because we feel so drained afterward. Pick your support team, and make sure you surround yourself with the right people who support you and positively challenge your thinking.
7)Think out of the box: there might be options you are not thinking of when overwhelmed. Once you have a clearer perspective, you can probably come up with some ideas that might help you overcome your problem. Know that you are not alone, and others have gone through similar situations. Lookup Ted talks or podcasts that are related to what you're experiencing. You might be able to learn a few things you can try, and if anything, you will get some inspiration from others that have walked in your shoes.
8) Know and believe you are powerful: Have you ever heard the saying "God only gives you that which you can handle"? It's true. You have the power within to handle anything that comes your way; I believe that! And I hope you do too. All the answers are within you; you need to allow yourself to sit still, reach within and become more aware of your inner power. Look how far you've come and how many obstacles you've overcome already. Think about all you have accomplished in your life so far, and find your inner power there. You've got this.
I hope you found some powerful things you can take with you and implement today to help you move into a more powerful place and feel less overwhelmed.
If you need additional support, reach out! Schedule a complimentary call with me using this link, and I can show you how you can move from overwhelmed and scattered to focused and tuned in to what matters most. I’ll help you relieve the stress so that you can be more present and engaged in everyday life!
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