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“You can’t calm the storm…so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.” ~ Timber Hawkeye

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I haven’t been able to write as frequently as I would like to, and I had been wondering why.

At times I felt I didn’t have much to say, and at other times I would get ideas and thoughts, but I would not be able to put them into words.

I had started to doubt myself, wondering if I’d lost my ability to write. And then it hit me: I wasn’t able to because I’ve been overwhelmed.

It’s been one thing after another—good and not so good together—and all that has left me quite drained and overwhelmed. Hence, my right brain had become a little dormant because the left one had taken over to do all the logical thinking, planning, and managing. But boy! Am I glad that my right brain decided to kick start itself! Finally, I am able to string some things together, and even as I’m writing this, I feel as if my soul is reentering my body.

This is what life is—filled with ups and downs. One moment things are slow, steady, and suddenly there will be too many things happening on various fronts. Life tests us in different ways, doesn’t it? And all this doing, managing, and even being can be really taxing at times. It can get pretty hard to navigate the demands of life.

“You’ll get to where you need to be in your own time. Until then, breathe. Breathe and be patient with yourself and your process. You’re doing the best you can to cope and survive amid your struggles, and that’s all you can ask of yourself. It’s enough. You are enough.” ~ Daniell Koepke

And when that happens, it’s not only okay but also needed that we slow down and learn to flow for a while till we feel recharged and ready to go again.

Here are a few things that I do when life gets overwhelming, and I’m sharing them with you, hoping that they would help you too:

1. Sigh.

Trust me, this works. Sighing (i.e filling up your lungs as you breathe in and exhaling deeply) involves your parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for getting you into a relaxed state. Sighing slows down your heart rate and has a soothing effect on the body.

2. Focus on the present moment.

When your mind is buzzing with a hundred things you need to do, you simply can’t focus on what needs to be done here and now. When that happens, make a list of all the things you need to do and then rank them in order of importance. Once you’ve done this, start working on what needs your immediate attention.

3. Take one step at a time and stop trying to figure everything all at once because you can’t.

We have limited energy and internal resources. When life gets overwhelming, it’s important to learn to conserve your energy and use it judiciously. Defer, delay, or delete what’s not urgent and important.

4. Take a break.

When there’s too much going on, it’s okay to step back, take a break, and disconnect for a while. That way you can recharge and come back with renewed energy and perspective.

5. Express yourself.

Let out your stress in some way or other. Amidst all that I was dealing with, I decided to sing my heart out at a karaoke night, and it connected me to myself in ways I didn’t even know were possible! Dance, play a sport, journal it out, or vent it out to a friend or family member—let it out.

6. Focus on what you can control.

This is a piece of wisdom that will never go out of fashion. When dealing with too much, narrow your focus to what you can control, and what’s out of your control needs to be out of your mind.

7. Revaluate your priorities.

Life happens, times and situations change, and your priorities need to realign to suit the demands of the changing times. Not everything needs to be done at the same time or with the same intensity. You’ve got to learn to let go of what’s not working or needed. Focus on what truly matters in the moment.

The fact is that there will always be something or other going on in life. It will come and go like waves and you’ve got to learn to surf them. The challenge is to know which wave to surf and which one to pass. Perhaps, that’s what being a human being is all about.

Isn’t it?

“Breathe. You’re going to be okay. Breathe and remember that you’ve been in this place before. You’ve been this uncomfortable and anxious and scared, and you’ve survived. Breathe and know that you can survive this too. These feelings can’t break you. They’re painful and debilitating, but you can sit with them and eventually, they will pass. Maybe not immediately, but sometime soon, they are going to fade and when they do, you’ll look back at this moment and laugh for having doubted your resilience. I know it feels unbearable right now, but keep breathing, again and again. This will pass. I promise it will pass.” ~ Daniell Koepke

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