Podcast #487

WHAT TO DO ABOUT OVERWHELM: HOW TO REDUCE IT AND MOVE THROUGH IT

Overwhelm is an indulgent emotion that will keep you stuck. You can cut through overwhelm by learning how to talk back to it and move through it with confidence and strategy. This coaching episode will teach you exactly how to reduce overwhelm, what to do to avoid an overwhelm overload, and 5 specific things you can do when overwhelmed. Goodbye overthinking and overwhelm, hello peace and presence. Get the full show notes at www.trishblackwell.com/487

 

In this episode of The Confidence Podcast, we’re talking about:

• What the brain does when stuck in overwhelm and why it’s keeping you stressed
• Why you are feeling overwhelmed all the time, and what to do about it
• How to become a person who doesn’t live and exist from a place of overwhelm

 

ANNOUNCEMENT:

You’ve waited and waited.
 
And it’s finally out.
 
Straighten Your Crown, on Audible!
 
Read by me, the author…
 
If you loved reading the book, you’ll love listening to it even more.
 
Oh, and if have loved Straighten Your Crown, but not yet written an Amazon review, please click here to let me know in a review what you thought about the book or how it moved you! 

 

REVIEW OF THE WEEK:

So thankful for this podcast!
 
Trish Blackwell is a gem and has created a podcast that reminds women of the fact that we are all gems and encourages us to see our value through God’s eyes, which is where true confidence comes from. I can’t give this podcast due justice with words. Please listen!

 

LET’S COACH ON OVERWHELM

“When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” -Psalm 61:2
 
“A woman who lives with the stress of an overwhelmed schedule will often ache with the sadness of an underwhelmed soul.” -Lysa Terkeurst
 
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret to getting started is breaking your overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” -Mark Twain
 
Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put toghter that overwhelm the world. -Desmond Tutu

 

SIGNS THAT YOU’RE FEELING OVERWHELMED

Things to Remove From Your Vocabulary
I never
I’ll never
I just can’t…
I just…
I can’t …
 
You’re stressed all the time.
You’re exhausted and stretched thin.
You’re worried or fearful about what you hope to do.

 

WHAT THE BRAIN DOES IN OVERWHELM

Shuts down or runs away.
Procrastinates or tries to over-compensate.
 
Listen – God does give you more than you can handle – so that you turn to Him.

 

WHY YOU FEEL OVERWHELMED ALL THE TIME

You’re not managing your mind. (deciding what stays and goes)
You’re not guarding your thoughts (inputs)
You’re not self-affirming.
You’re not staying in your own lane.
You’re not creating systems or deciding on priorities.
You’re living a reactionary life, not an intentional one.
 
 
Overwhelm happens when we succumb to too much output pressing in; most often, these are situations we can guard and moderate.
 
When overwhelmed, we often go into buffering
-overworking
-overthinking
-procrastination
-avoidance
-drinking
-eating
 
It’s important that you know what you do on default mode when overwhelmed in order for you take back the narrative of what you want to do / how you want to react instead.

 

WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT

Stop indulging in it.
What stays concealed can’t be healed.
You’re tolerating a lifestyle that’s less than what you were made for.
 
Get honest with yourself.
 
These questions will help:
Am I allowing myself to feel like a victim?
Am I overscheduling my life?
Am I allowing small things to compound into big things?
Am I speaking up for myself?
Am I asking for help or support?
Am I trying to be a hero?
Am I purposely intimidating myself into overwhelm?

 

5 THINGS TO DO WHEN OVERWHELMED

1. Break it down – and move forward in 3 small ways. (this will help you move through it)
2. Decide how you want to react and show up (not buffer, not hide, not overwork, etc.)
3. Change atmosphere and move your body with intentional distraction
4. Give yourself a 10-minute pity-party timer
5. Redirect your focus toward intentional belief work

 

OTHER EPISODES TO ENJOY

#455: Still Caring too Much, Even Though You Know Better

#451: Black and White Thinking is Hurting You

#440: Why Overthinking is Worse for You Than You Think

#483: Self-Validation: The Art of Not Needing Other People to Tell You “Good Job”

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Take your next step: join us in the College of Confidence.
 
Don’t miss our workshop on How to Stop Procrastinating.
 
Join at www.collegeofconfidence.com/join

 

LISTENER OF THE EPISODE

I hope you and your family are well. I have been meaning to write to you but was waiting for a perfect time. But then I thought, there may never be a perfect time and it’s best to send you my thoughts right away. 
 
I just wanted to say “Thank You” because your podcast has been a source of immense blessing to me in ways I can hardly describe. 
Most times, it’s like you just address what I’m thinking about or a similar experience I had in the past. For example, the episode where you talked about the twin sisters that compared you to your brother and found no correlation in your physical features. I could really understand that kind of situation as I had similar comparisons in my growing up years. Also, your most recent episode- Episode 483 on Self-Affirmation”. Oh boy! I felt God just used you to echo many things he has been teaching me in a strong way. 
 
In a nutshell, Trish, you are a blessing and changing lives around the world. I feel like I know you especially because when you speak about your emotions and personality, it’s like a mirror of myself. 
 
I plan to sign up for College of Confidence soon and I wish and hope that someday, we can sit together over coffee and just talk for hours. Maybe when I’m in your city or when you happen to be in mine; I live in Edmonton, AB, Canada. 
 
Stay blessed and do have a great month and the rest of the year. Thank you for the great work you’re doing! 
 
Cheers, Diana