When life gets complicated... Go back to the basics!

​Between responsibilities, work demands, relationships, and emotional ups and downs, it’s not surprising that we face moments of chaos and uncertainty. When that state of chaos becomes the norm, things get dicey and we can become run down and stuck in overwhelm.
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​Eventually it starts to feel like all of the ease and joy has been sucked out of life.

So, what is an exhausted, overwhelmed person to do?

#1 Ease up on the mental gymnastics.

One of the first responses our mind has to stressful situations is to tell stories about why we deserve it, that we’re justified in feeling the way we do, and then it seals the deal by showing how unlikely it is that we’ll be able to turn things around. And we believe every negative word we tell ourselves!

To begin revising this inner dialogue to one that is more supportive, consider this quote from Byron Katie:

“A thought is harmless unless we believe it. It’s not our thoughts, but our attachment to our thoughts, that causes suffering. Attaching to a thought means believing that it’s true, without inquiring. A belief is a thought that we’ve been attaching to, often for years.”
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Not believing our thoughts is definitely the simplest path to peace, however, it takes lots of practice and that’s where it’s essential to be patient and persistent.

#2 There is a solution

I find it’s very helpful to remind myself of this, even if I have no idea what the answer is at the moment. Keeping your mind focused on the solution helps to calm down the fight or flight response and will get you unstuck because your mind is taking empowered action rather than fixating on the problem. 

#3 Do one small thing 

When we’re looking for ways out of a bad cycle it can often feel like we have to do something major like change jobs, find new friends, move to a different city, end a relationship, stop eating foods we enjoy… And generally, that just adds to the pressure and keeps us from taking any action at all.
Here’s what to do!
Find one small thing you can commit to everyday such as...

• Drinking more water
• Sitting in stillness for 5 minutes
• Prioritize sleep (even going to bed 20 minutes earlier can make a difference)
• Add in more veggies
• Take 3 deep breaths 5 times a day
• Walk for 15 minutes (then gradually work up to 30)

 
Even if you eventually add in more of these habits, start with one that feels easiest and most fun to you. By doing that you set yourself up for success because you are much more likely to stick with it.

#4  Be kinder to yourself

​Self-kindness--the most important one of all! There are few things more demotivating than criticism, and that includes our own inner critics who tend to be the harshest. The words we use are shaped by the beliefs we hold and together they create our experience. Or as Mahatma Gandhi said:

Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny. 

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If you're done feeling stuck and are ready to create your destiny, the easy next step is to schedule your free consultation with me. In our call you will learn more about what is stopping you from reaching your most important goals and how you can take action to move forward right away.