Does it feel like life is going at a gazillion miles an hour right now? Like you are being bombarded from every angle, squeezed and squished in every direction?
Even though I feel as though I’ve been living in a bubble; avoiding news and not spending hours on social media, I can feel overwhelm creeping in – so much to do, and so little time! There’s the routine things that need doing day in day out, week in week out, big projects that need moving forward, foundational pillars for my business that I’m putting into place – and of course Christmas.
My days are accompanied by an undercurrent of self-flagellation that I’m not doing enough, I’m not taking action on key projects, I’m not being visible, and I’m not nourishing myself in the way I need to. Instead, I’m simply firefighting and letting life toss me about.
There are no big voices of old telling me I’m rubbish, useless, or need to “get my act together”. They are much more subtle; a hint, a snide remark, an undercurrent of what I “should” be doing – rather like a pernicious weed that no matter how much you pull it up it keeps coming back!
It’s hardly surprising therefore that my emotions have been all over the place.
Excited, buoyant “life is amazing” emotions one minute, followed an hour or two later with wanting to curl up and cry for no reason.
Yet as I look back pragmatically at the last few weeks, the truth is I have made huge shifts in many areas:
- Planning and preparing for Christmas a month earlier than usual – so that I’m not rushing around on Christmas Eve and up late wrapping presents.
- Scheduling a retreat for next spring and booking the venue.
- Creating Sacred Six Figures – an incredible 6 month mentoring programme.
- Hiring the most perfect VA in the most easy and effortless way.
- Speaking to someone to get support with social media marketing.
- Recording a podcast
- Scheduling dates for the next Sacred Selling Foundations programme and having a promotional plan (albeit in my head)
- Signing up for a year-long mentoring programme
- Leading and supporting clients with a brand-new online programme (whilst creating new content for it).
- Being more visible
And doing all this whilst generating sales and doing all the day to day stuff. Not to mention our two new little kittens that, whilst adorable, are running around creating havoc!
When I look at everything going on and all that I have accomplished and progressed – it’s huge.
All too often when we’re in the throes of day-to-day business, it’s easy to get consumed by it. It’s easy to zoom in on everything that’s not been done and needs doing and forget everything that’s been done.
I noticed this with cleaning. My cleaner would do an amazing job in half the time it would take me and my house would be sparkling. An hour later, I’d notice some skirting boards that were a bit grubby, or some cobwebs that escaped the duster. Focussing so much on what’s to be done or how much farther there is to travel perpetuates a “not enough” story.
So if you’re feeling overwhelmed or frazzled right now – stop.
Take a moment, take an hour, take a day and simply pause.
Breathe and go inwards.
Look back on what you have accomplished, what you have achieved, where you have focussed your energy.
Celebrate how far you’ve come.
If there are any areas you’re not proud of, get curious. How are you contributing to that behaviour? I know that I scroll aimlessly when I’m tired and it’s neither restorative or productive. Instead of reaching for my phone I need to sleep or rest.
Pay attention to what replenishes and nourishes you and schedule more of that into your calendar.
And if you’re feeling frazzled, or overwhelmed and worried there are not enough hours in the day, please know that you are doing an amazing job. That given your circumstances you are rocking it.
You’ve got this. You can trust yourself.
Much love,
Melina
