Overload is when we’ve got a LOT on our plate.
Overload: a pile of work tasks, home tasks, family issues, friendship issues, political concerns, health worries, etc. - all at once!
Overload ≠ Overwhelm.
Overwhelm is an emotional reaction to overload.
Overwhelm: a stress- or fear-based emotional reaction.
Overload usually has something to do with what’s going on outside ourselves. Overwhelm is an inside job and has to do with how we’re emotionally dealing with what’s outside.
We think that overload initiates the overwhelm. It doesn’t.
Overwhelm is a result of insecure and fearful thinking about our ability to effectively deal with the overload.
Without insecure and fearful thinking, we wouldn’t get overwhelmed.
When you get overwhelmed, what are you afraid of?
Disappointing others? Embarrassing yourself? Failing to hit the mark? “Dropping the ball”?
("Dropping the ball" and “failure” might come to mind, but dig deeper: what’s the problem with ‘dropping the ball’? What’s the problem with ‘failing’? That's what you're afraid of.)
When you get overwhelmed, what insecure thought about yourself takes the wheel of your emotions?
Is it that you can’t handle this? That you aren’t smart enough, strong enough, effective enough?
A participant in last year’s mind mastery experience said that seeing that insecurity underlies so much of what she feels was incredibly freeing. “When we come to terms with the insecurity, it’s easier to respond.” (Link to 1:18 min video of her describing this.)
While overload may be inescapable in life at times, overwhelm is optional.
The world will keep turning. The sun will come up tomorrow. This too shall pass. Use whatever aphorism you like to ground yourself in times of overwhelm to help you relax and let the emotional storm blow over.
And if you really want to level-up your ability to be clear-headed, powerful, and at ease in the face of overload, reach out and let’s talk.
The truth: each of us really can handle whatever we need to handle, even if our insecure and fearful thinking tells us otherwise.
Overwhelm isn’t really about the overload - it's about our relationship to the overload.
Much Love. ❤️
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