When Everything Feels Like Too Much ~
I will admit something honestly this week: I feel overwhelmed. I am exhausted.
Not the quiet, manageable kind of busy. The kind where everything important seems to be happening at the same time. I am still processing everything I learned during my therapy intensive in Montana. There are pages of journaling waiting for me; reflections that need space; tools that need practice in real life. At the same time, I am trying to stay present online; sharing what this journey looks like through @redeem_thyself and @7_pedals. And right alongside all of that, I am launching The Redeemed Collective.
It is a lot to hold.
Experts often describe overwhelm as a signal that our mental and emotional load has exceeded the space we have available to process it. One article in Psychology Today explains that when people feel overwhelmed, the first step is simply recognizing the situation and taking stock of what led there; clarity itself can begin to reduce the intensity of the feeling.
For me, journaling has become one of the ways I take that inventory. Research and mental health organizations consistently note that writing down thoughts and experiences can reduce stress, increase self-awareness, and help people process difficult emotions. For me, finding the time to journal just isn’t happening. Rather, I reflect and ponder while I drive; driving always has a way of creating a deep reflective space.
I also remind myself of something I wrote recently in my blog about living life for myself. Learning to take up space means recognizing when life feels too full and allowing myself the time to process it. Growth requires room.
Nature reminds me that change rarely happens during calm seasons. Rivers carve their paths during heavy runoff. Forest floors become fertile after storms scatter branches and needles across the soil. What looks like chaos often becomes the beginning of something new.
Perhaps overwhelm is not a sign that something is wrong. Perhaps it simply means that many meaningful things are growing at the same time. And for now, my work is simple: keep writing, keep reflecting, and keep making space for what matters most. Easier said than done.
~ julie
If you feel so inclined, please reply with your thoughts.
Note: JM Lane is NOT a mental health professional, nor does she carry a license to practice medicine. Posts, blogs, and content are based on JM Lane’s personal experiences, perceptions, and reflections. By no means does any material convey what others should or should not do.
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