Do you ever find yourself caught in a whirlwind of overwhelm, juggling the demands of life, work, and personal responsibilities? I think it’s impossible to not experience moments of overwhelm given the complexity of modern life. 

Overwhelm is rooted in the Old English "oferwealman," which literally means overturning or capsizing in the context of ships. Over time it took on a more figurative sense symbolizing a powerful force disrupting control.

What I know for sure, is that the feeling of overwhelm only arises when I’m living in my mind. To alleviate overwhelm it’s essential to ground myself in my body, take refuge in my breath, and fully immerse myself in the present moment through my senses. When I do this, what truly matters can come to the forefront of my awareness and I’m better able to engage in strategies like identifying the source of the overwhelm, creating boundaries, and challenging perfectionism. 

There will always be an infinite amount of tasks on my plate, especially in my current season of life with a young child, aging parents and a career that is simultaneously rewarding but demanding. When I tackle my tasks with a focused and clear presence the universe responds positively. 

Inspired action, I've learned, emanates from an embodied place. Tuning into our bodies, the language of the soul, enables decisions to unfold naturally through felt sensations, and creative ideas flow effortlessly. Fully embracing the present moment empowers us, making the future naturally fall into place.

As we navigate the complexity of modern life, I invite you to reflect on how you might break free from overwhelm and embrace inspired action with these principles:

1. Clarify Your Values: Illuminate what truly matters and inspires you.

2. Take Refuge in Your Breath, Body and Senses: Overwhelm takes place in the mind. Get out of your head and into your body.

3. Listen to Your Inner Voice: Trust your instincts and intuition, they often lead you toward inspired actions. When you need more guidance ask yourself, “What’s my most wise and loving next step?”

4. Celebrate Progress OVER Perfection: Perfectionism is rooted in feelings of unworthiness. Adopt the habit of saying, “I am enough. May what I do today be enough.”   

5. Surrender and Stay Open to Serendipity: Be open but not attached to outcomes. When you are fueled by a deep sense of higher purpose things unfold in ways you could never conceive. 

This month, let us remember that we are most powerful when we harmonize body, mind, and spirit in service of a higher purpose. Anchored in this synergy, we not only transcend overwhelm but propel ourselves forward with inspired and purposeful action. 

Wishing you a month filled with clarity, presence, and flow

PS 

Educators: I'm still offering a huge discount on the SEL Every Day Courses. There are even greater discounts for multi-users and you have the option of earning 3-6 Graduate Credits.