Sometimes Life Can Feel Overwhelming

Let’s Face It
There will be times in your life when you are feeling less than stellar.  Yes, in a perfect world you understand everything is just temporary and it’ll be over before you know it.  But there’s no such thing as perfection, we’re human.  And honestly, our imperfections are what keep things interesting.  That being said, man can it get frustrating when things are blowing up left and right.  I’ve had a week like that.  The banks are scared and dropping credit limits, my dog decided now was the perfect time to injure himself, and (men I apologize but it’s reality) shark week kicked off and boy howdy did the bitchy switch get flipped this go round.  Let’s just say, I have been less than impeccable with my words, actions, and thoughts.  But guess what, this is life.  We will go through periods of time like that until we’re no longer here.  So how can we cope?
 
Recognize It
Now you may see that heading and laugh, because you know when life’s going a bit sideways and contrast is doing it’s thing right?  Eh…maybe not so right.  Especially if you’re like me and have a pretty good system in place to stay pretty upbeat and balanced.  Sometimes it takes being in the thick of it before you realize that you’re a little (or a lot) off center.  Honestly it took me struggling through my day yesterday, like really struggling mentally and physically, before I recognized I needed to reel it back in.  And I like to think I’m a pretty observant person!  But nope, I had stopped observing and was just reacting. 

I want to tell you something important here, as long as you’re reacting you aren’t really in a place of power.  Your focus is on the problem(s) and that’s where all of your energy is going.  But the very second you can take a beat and step back to see that you’re kind of in the middle of it, you’ve offered up a pattern interrupt.  From that moment on your focus can be on the solution.  Now don’t get me twisted, the solution might not present itself in that very moment.  But it will eventually show up and knowing that you’re looking forward feels a hell of a lot better than simply trying to keep your head above water.
 
Solution Focused
The solution to your problem is going to depend entirely on your situation right?  Mostly yes.  But even if you can’t automatically think of something that seems like a good solution you can start switching your mindset.  You can start doing little things that bring you joy, that light you up inside, that make you smile.  Let’s face it, you’ve managed to handle 100% of the stuff you’ve experienced up to now, so we know this moment isn’t going to be any different.  Honestly, even typing that melts some of the tension out of my body.  Also, the universe is conspiring on your behalf, so solutions are going to present themselves as long as you’re open to them.  The trick is that first subtle observation combined with the mindset shift.  We stop being a victim and start realizing that we’re in the captain seat.  Sure, we may be in exploration mode, but we still get to be in charge.  We can still put ourselves in observation mode so that when a solution does present itself, even if it’s in stages, we’re ready for it.

In a situation where it feels like the world is out to get you, or everything bad is happening at once, or your body’s hormones are betraying you (ok that last one might have been specific to me) anything that gives us back our power is key.  We may not control the situation but we absolutely control our reaction to it.  So, we know that we’re maybe not being our best version, we know that we’ll get through it because we always do, and we know that in a moment we felt powerless we actually do have some power.  Now we can work on thinking the next best thought about the situation (because you can’t get to feeling ok about something when you’re in the middle of loathing it, but you can get to one stage better) and following our joy in small and easily digestible ways (because as exciting as escaping to Bora Bora may sound in the moment it’s a little impractical. 
 
Sprinkle Forgiveness In
Now this part may seem like it makes absolutely no sense, but I promise it does.  Forgive yourself, forgive everybody else involved, and release let go of judgment.  I think it’s probably easier at times to forgive others over yourself.  I know when I get caught up in one of these vicious little circles, I have a tendency to judge myself hard.  To blame myself for not being more aware, less fiery, and more zen.  Some of that is habitual energy left over from when I was a very cruel person to myself.  I know I have to work on it more, and I am.  But here’s the thing, I can’t change a damn thing about what’s happened up to this point because that’s in the past.  And at the end of the day, I wouldn’t be where I am now if that hadn’t happened.  The me that I am in the now is being kind, is observing rather than reacting, is owning her power, and is sharing her experience to help other people who are feeling like I was feeling.  That’s a pretty badass person and maybe it took a bit of contrast to get me there.  So I forgive myself, I’ll do better moving forward, and I won’t judge anything because look at me now.  Can you see how forgiveness is kinda helpful when you’re trying to crawl out of a slump? 
 
To Recap
We observe that we’re in a slump, we focus on the solution, shift our mindset, and we forgive ourselves for having gotten there in the first place.  Also, make self-care a priority!!!!  There are many many ways to do that, and I will happily give you a list if you need some inspiration.  When you’re making yourself, loving yourself, a priority you’re showing the universe that that’s what you want more of.  You’d be surprised how suddenly little things here and there improve, unexpected happy treats pop up, and your mood begins to improve pretty rapidly.  So, if you’re in a slump just remember.  It’ll be better soon, life isn’t out to get you, and maybe you just needed a little contrast to shake things up and make room for magnificence.