“A feeling of being overwhelmed is your indicator that you are denying yourself access to all manner of cooperation that could assist you if you were not disallowing them.” – Abraham-Hicks
We all have busy lives. Whether it is your job, family, friends, or sports, the list of things to do can get long, and feel overwhelming. The first step in simplifying the process of living, and managing all of our commitments, is to slow down. When there seems to be too much on our plate, we have to slow down and take the step that is right in front of us.
It is easy to get moving so fast that we forget to pay attention to what we are doing. As a result, we can create a fast moving train of thoughts and activities. If we do not slow down to figure out what is the most effective step we can take in this moment, we are likely to miss our destination. Further still, this way of living takes all the joy out of the journey.
The good news is that we can slow down any time we choose. Time is more fluid than we think. In fact, the more we rush, the faster time flies. The faster time flies, the more we are tempted to muscle our way through, often overlooking the way we are treating ourselves and other people in the process.
On the other hand, when we take the time to sit quietly, and reflect on what is going on, time begins to expand. We find that we have more time than we thought, and things begin to line up for us in unexpected ways. I have seen this happen over and over again in the school district.
There is something about paperwork that used to send my mind into a nervous frenzy. As soon as a meeting came up or some document needed to be completed, my mind would begin worrying about whether or not I would be prepared on time. That type of thinking was counterproductive because it would lead to avoidance and stress. Once that feeling of stress entered the picture, the other parts of my life tended to get sucked into the tornado of overwhelm and I became less productive, and less effective in my job.
The funny part is, every time I choose to sit and write down what my actual responsibilities are, life starts to feel good again. Suddenly, the amorphous ball of stress turns into a small little kitten, purring for my attention. As I pick up the kitten and give it the love that it desires, I calm down and feel a sense of accomplishment. There is nothing better than that feeling of getting back in the flow with life.
I love when students catch on to this process. First, all it takes is a willingness to look at what is going on, no matter how scary it feels to do so. Then it takes a willingness to stay open to the possibility that things are not as bad or as hard as we have been making them out to be. Once we do these steps, a natural sense of inspiration begins to arise and we start getting creative new ideas about how we can go about accomplishing our goals.
Last year I had a student who found the willingness to do what it would take to graduate high school. It happened in the eleventh hour. Suddenly, that young man was willing to look at what needed to be done, meet with whomever needed to be talked to, and do whatever was required to earn credits toward his diploma. It came down to the very last day of class, and sure enough, through a series of small miracles, that young man walked the stage with his classmates at his high school graduation.
Perhaps you are feeling overwhelmed by life. This is especially common around the holidays when our mind starts to be flooded with all sorts of unexpected memories and emotions. It is okay to slow down and take some time for yourself. Make a list of the things that need to be done. Include all of the things you want to be doing, in and out of work and family. After you are clear about what the next steps are, let it go. Fold up your paper and put it in your pocket, or a safe place. You can look at it any time you start to feel overwhelmed. The most important part of life is that you enjoy the ride, one step at a time.
Edward Biagiotti is the Inclusion Specialist for Culver City Unified School District. He is also co-host of the popular radio show, Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed, to find out more go to www.DarrellandEd.com. Visit www.TappingIntoGenius.com for more articles and a free, inspirational parenting download.
