We get overwhelmed about many things.  We start off with great intentions.  We want to get healthier and more fit. We want to clean the house, get a PhD, find the perfect man, marry him and have lots of babies, get a new car that is way out of our price range. We have lots of ambitions goals, dreams and some pipe dreams don't we?

 

Well for the purpose of this newsletter, I am going to speak for the health and fitness goals. Some are short term: lose 5 pounds, some are long term: get in shape to run a marathon. Some are somewhere in between. Our minds can play tricks on us. We have the plan all mapped out, how long it will take, who we want on our team to help us, workout gear: check, nutrition plan: check, gym membership: check, buddy system: check,  motivation: check. Everything is exactly as it should be.

 

Then one day you are bopping along and all of the sudden, and you don't know why you get this heavy feeling of overwhelm, doom and gloom and hopelessness. Yesterday you were just fine, but today you feel very overwhelmed.  What is the deal? How can we move towards our goals under these circumstances? Everything seems so hopeless. Especially since you feel hopeless, then those hopeless behaviors start to kick in. "I may as well take the day off, it's not like I am looking any better anyway" or "I may as well eat what I want, it's not like dieting is getting me leaner anyway."

 

So how can we break this cycle? Instead of feeling overwhelmed, feel joy and excitement about our goals. Here's how:

1. Become aware that you are overwhelmed. This sounds to simplistic, I am sure, but the reality is, most often we just feel "bad" but we are not really sure the source.  Become aware that you are thinking in a way that is counter productive to your goals.

 

2. Take a step back from the feeling. Is the overwhelming feeling your own personal pressure? Is it pressure from others to look or be a certain way? Is it pressure from unrealistic time frames for your goals? What is the source, or as I like to say, How do you now to feel overwhelmed?

 

3. What would you like to be feeling instead? Think about a short term version of your goal and focus on a part of your goal that when you think about it you now feel good. Now you can move forward with your day feeling energetic and passionate about your current and future life.

 

Using a journal is a great way to enhance self expression. I highly recommend you use a journal for this exercise and see what comes up for you.  Have fun!