Feeling Overwhelmed? Start Here.

I hate feeling overwhelmed. Fortunately, I use a few simple redirects to eliminate overwhelm as soon as I feel it.

Let me share a bit of backstory.

This morning, I got an email from one of my 12 Weeks to Transformation clients.

I feel overwhelmed. I really want to move forward, but then I am easily discouraged. I sometimes just want to give up.

The most powerful words in the world are those that follow “I am…”

They are both descriptive and prescriptive.

If you say, “I am easily discouraged”, that is an instruction to yourself. You are clinging to the and arguing for the pattern you don’t want.

When you argue for your limitations, you get to keep them.

So, if you don’t want to be easily discouraged, do not say you are easily discouraged!

Here’s the other piece of it:

When you say that you are easily discouraged, you are taking a past pattern and projecting it onto your present and your future. You are saying that the way things have been is the way they will continue to be.

That’s a decision. You’ve decided that’s the way it will be.

No bueno.

Overwhelm is a direct result of focusing on more than the moment you’re in.

You’re either replaying the past patterns or you’re manufacturing worry about the future, or both.

You are only overwhelmed because of the perspective you’ve chosen.

Fortunately, there are many other perspectives available to you that will reduce or eliminate your overwhelm.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, walk yourself through these steps:

• Am I focused on the problem or am I participating in the solution?
• What am I able to do today (or right now) to create progress or improvement?
• What is happening right now that I can focus on?

Choose to be where your feet are. Choose to not only be in this moment, but to win the moment you’re in.

Remind yourself that overwhelm is a result of focusing on more than the moment you’re in.

Use that feeling as an opportunity to practice coming back to the moment you’re in and making one great choice.

Refuse to sell yourself the story of the problem.

Refuse to limit yourself to the pattern of the past.

Refuse to distract yourself with what lies ahead.

Be where you’re feet are & win the moment you’re in!