Is coping with overwhelm a solution?
Solutions aimed at ‘coping with overwhelm‘ and ‘feelings of overwhelm’ imply that overwhelm is a normal aspect of daily living. Instead, what if overwhelm was an important barometer of something not working in your life? It could be a life-saving signal inviting you to live differently. Let’s face it, everyone is busy – yet some people feel overwhelmed and others don’t? How come?
Overwhelm is really a result of not ‘being present’ in the moment. Constantly thinking about what you must achieve, in certain timescales this means you lose awareness of what is happening now. It hoodwinks you into believing that ‘once you clear your desk’ you will have space to think. This never happens does it? The desk fills with new things. You have to keep your eye on the overall vision of what you want and then evaluate everything in terms of that overall goal?
I encourage my clients to consider overwhelm differently. First, they must be able to relax, when they need to. Therefore:
- find a quiet place, sit down with your back supported and close your eyes.
- slow down your breathing.
- breath in through your noste to the count of 5 and out through your
mouth to the count of 5 - after a minute or two, you will feel calmer.
- reflect on how you feel doing this?
It may take a bit of practice but it will help you become ‘more present’. Now the important questions underlying the overwhelm:
- What is important to you?
- What do you really want to do with your life?
- For what purpose?
- What will it be like when you ‘have’ what you desire?
- How would you know you had it?