Finding Peace in the Overwhelm

A full life is a beautiful thing.  We engage with family and friends in an authentic way.  We step into hobbies with passion.  We volunteer with causes that fill our hearts.  The activities in our lives define us, connect us, and fill us.

And yet...too much of a good thing can still be too much!

In the last few months, I've fallen into the deep end.  Between end-of-the-school-year sports and music events, volunteer activities planned when life was simpler, much-loved house guests, and a booming business, life has become overwhelming.  Basic needs have been cut from my life.  Every moment of every day is predefined.  I'm rushing from one activity to another, hardly feeling present.  All of the Zen that I've cultivated is wobbly and the chaos is creeping in.

Does this sound familiar?

The situation has given me pause to reassess and realign.  After more than 40 years of this depleting pattern, it's time to consider other ways of showing up.  I've gathered guidance from mentors and find myself slowly implementing their advice.  In case it helps you, I wanted to share what I've learned.

1. When overwhelmed with overscheduling, consider if you can:

• Postpone:  change the timing of your participation.  Delaying a project or responsibility for a day or week can make the necessary space to maintain balance.

• Delegate:  determine which activities you can hire out or ask others cover.  It's ok to ask for help!  You'll find that your community loves to be of service. 

• Eliminate:  consider which activities don't resonate with you, and can be let go completely.   When you think about the activity, does your body feel excitement or dread?  Use this feeling to guide you.

It was a game changer for me to start thinking this way.  I backed out of commitments that didn't resonate with me, for the first time in my life.  Although it felt bad to 'quit', I also felt a tremendous sense of relief in stepping into personal alignment.  I learned that other people want to step up and enjoy feeling needed.  Changing the timing of requirements took a lot of pressure off.  Overall, letting go of expectations and specific outcomes can be liberating.

2.  Start a daily personal practice

This is the Key!  All of my Gurus stress that a personal practice is paramount.  

Life seems to ebb and flow with activities; life is simple and peaceful, and suddenly everything is happening at once and our schedules are overwhelming!

We can put a Bandaid on our overscheduled lives by cancelling activities or saying 'no' to new demands.  But eventually it tends to build up again.

Start a personal practice.  Each day, carve out time for YOU.  This is non-negotiable time.  

This is not a time to DO anything.  This is a time to just BE.  

Consider 10 minutes meditating and quieting your mind.  Consider a moving meditation of Yoga, Qigong movements, jogging, or knitting.  Consider sitting outside, listening to the birds and the wind.  Whatever you choose, this is a time to quiet the mind, rejuvenate your spirit, and listen to your inner-self.  It's a time to align with yourself.

If you have a personal practice, you will remain more balanced through the chaos of life.   No matter what life throws at you, you will have more resilience and clarity about the right path for you.

3.  Reframe:  

Remember that Chaos is a key ingredient for creating Change!  Life becomes stagnant and we become set in our ways.  The chaos of life can be a gentle nudge or powerful push to change what is not working for you.  Be open to the messages from life's challenges; it may be an invitation to take a new path.

• Ground yourself.  Feel the earth beneath you and your connection to nature.

• Connect to the Cosmos.  Feel the expansiveness and infinite potential of the universe.

• Set your field.  Notice the protective field around you, constantly discerning what is yours and what does not belong to you.  Trust your field to only allow Love to come in, and only allow Love to come out.

• When you are grounded, connected, and protected, you can be flexible with the chaos of the world.

I hope this is helpful.  I will continue to practice and share my progress with you.  Please share your progress and inspiration with me too!  Together we can support each other in realigning with our true nature.