Earlier this week, I felt like the world was closing in on me. I’m working on A LOT of projects, and everyone needed my attention.
I don’t ask a lot, and I’m pretty giving, but the truth is – my “me” time is important.
But, that’s my responsibility.
I took on a million projects at once, so of course people expect me to get things done, right? And, how would anyone know I took on more than I could handle unless I said something?
I was drained, but I knew deep down that it wasn’t anyone else’s fault but mine. If the same commitment had been made to me, I’d expect them to follow through!
I was just so overwhelmed and frustrated, and I couldn’t relax. I was questioning why I was doing these things. Was I saying yes when I should have been saying no? Am I addicted to being busy?
I was also mad at myself because this situation resulted in me having to put all of my passion projects on hold.
I wanted to cry, and didn’t know what to do or who to talk to. There were people I could have reached out to, but I didn’t want to be an energy drain.
I didn’t want advice because I already knew the answer. I was going to have to remove some projects from my plate.
So, I asked myself exactly how I needed help right now?
I didn’t need advice or a lecture – I just needed someone to tell me it was going to be ok and offer a long hug.
I told myself , “It’s going to be ok. Everything that seems really big and overwhelming right now is just a small speck of your past. Take a deep breath. Exhale your stress & overwhelm – let it all go. You are loved.”
Then, I decided to tell that to the world.
And, by the world, I mean Facebook.
I find that the best thing you can do to make yourself feel better an an overwhelming situation is to be there for others in the way you would want in return. Give others the advice that you want to hear.
We are all mirrors, and if we can project the loving energy we desire, then it will just reflect back to us.
I ended up getting so many comments and thank you’s from this post. So many people said they were feeling this way, and they needed to hear this. A friend even told me in person that what I wrote really made a difference in their day.
I realized that I’m not alone in this.
Once I realized we’re all going through this together, I instantly felt happier and less stressed. Everyone was grateful, and I was able to absorb that energy. I started to feel more calm and ready to take on the world!
So many people are going through overwhelm. When you’re in it – it feels like your problems are bigger than everyone else’s. Especially because we see on social media how amazing everyone is doing.
I always forget that social media is just the highlight reel. It’s not real life.It’s a story of how we want to be seen. You might even say it’s our branding.
I also learned that most of the time we just need to listen.
When someone comes to you with a problem, it’s tempting to try to give pieces of advice, and tell people how to go about fixing their problems.
Your intentions are really good, but sometimes it can be frustrating for the person seeking help.
In my case, I just needed someone to listen to me and hug me. It seemed like that’s what everyone else needed, too.
We just needed to hear those words – it will be ok.
Next time someone comes to me for help, I’m going to really listen to what they say, the inflection in their voice, and be there in the way that they need – NOT the way I want to be there for them.
Next time you want to close yourself off to the world, feel overwhelmed or stressed, or just want to scream – take that energy and throw it out to the universe. If you feel like you really need a hug – give someone else a hug. If you need to be told that it’s all going to be okay – tell someone else that needs it.
Instantly you’ll feel connected, supported, and a sigh of relief.
So do it now… How are you feeling? How will you help someone? Tell me your experiences in the comments below!
