Sometimes life can be overwhelming. Regardless of the external or internal factors that cause it to be that way, we’ve all hit those moments in our lives where we just feel like it’s too much to handle. So how can we deal with it?
There are plenty of approaches to take. Whether it’s changing your physical reaction to the situation or trying to improve your thought process, there ways to react that help diffuse the situation and put you on a better path. It might not always be a guaranteed fix, but in my experience making a situation a little less bad than it used to be can go a long way.
So this week, I’m going to dive into two thoughts you can focus on, things to remember to help navigate your mind when life gets too overwhelming. While each is an individual thought, they can grow into a larger process and approach depending on your belief in what you’re saying.
The first thing I try to remember is that the universe does not revolve around me or any other person. A different way to say that might be that I’m not the center of the universe. What I mean by that is, what’s happening out in the world is so much bigger than what’s happening to each of us on an individual level. Did you know that? Probably. But here’s why it helps me deal with overwhelming things.
You may have heard someone use the term ‘in the grand scheme of things…’ in an attempt to calm you or someone else down. It sounds silly, but it’s entirely accurate. In the grand scheme of it all, a lot of things won’t end up mattering to you in the long run. It’s hard to remember at the moment, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Is that a pessimistic thought? Maybe on its head. But if you’re looking at it from the context of feeling overwhelmed, of thinking every decision you make is the most important one, it can be freeing.
I know I’m not the center of the universe. This world is so much bigger than me. Not even this world – this city, this street, this room, whatever you want to think. The point is when I feel overwhelmed I have a hard time remembering that. And when someone else tells me that, or if I have the foresight to remind myself, it takes some of the pressure off. Maybe that feeling doesn’t disappear completely, but it isn’t quite so terrible. And if you feel overwhelmed a lot of the time, that can be enough.
My Brain's Not Broken 
That quote is awesome!
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Right? I was so excited when I found it, it’s definitely going to be bookmarked now. Thanks!
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It seems to me, that the feelings of being overwhelmed is an emotion, or at least a combing of emotions like fear, uncertainty, and trepidation. These emotions like all emotions do not exist in the outside world. They are creations of your mind. Yet, these emotions do hold power over us and do so everyday on a uniquely individual scale. Especially our negative emotions as being overwhelmed.
In time and with experience I find we are better able to recognize them (when they occur) and thus gain some control over their dominance. The greater the extent of our experiences and the greater control we gain. So I guess what I’m saying is with age comes experience. And part of that experience is dealing with our own emotions. — But what if we had this knowledge at an earlier age?
Perhaps emotional self-control (among other things) should be taught to us at an early age. In the classroom, so we are schooled to handle and recognize our emotions when they are happening. You know — some Real Life Self-Management skills? Is it more important to learn the date of the Spanish Inquisition? Or how to manage our lifelong emotional self-control? I enjoyed your post Nathan. And the Topic!
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That’s an interesting thought, emotional intelligence is a concept that’s been taking off in the professional world and I would wonder if people can make the connection you did! The ability to recognize our own emotions is very underrated in my opinion. Thanks for sharing!
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