Gentle Words for a Mind in Overdrive
Photo Credit: Viorel Kurnosov via iStockPhoto.com
By: Jamila Gomez
When overwhelm sets in, it often feels like being trapped beneath a wave, struggling to catch your breath. Let’s pause right here. First, breathe with me—slowly in, and slowly out. Let’s ground ourselves before we unpack everything swirling around inside.
It’s completely understandable to feel buried under this weight right now. Life has a relentless way of piling on challenges, obligations, and expectations. Recognize this: your overwhelm doesn’t indicate weakness or failure; it’s a signal from your body and mind that you’re juggling more than feels manageable. That’s not a flaw—it’s being human.
Take a moment to acknowledge everything that’s causing your overwhelm. It can feel counterintuitive to face it directly, but clarity often begins with gentle acknowledgment. What specifically feels too heavy today? Is it work pressure, relationship struggles, health concerns, or perhaps the accumulation of many smaller tasks?
Now, let’s compassionately observe what’s happening inside. Overwhelm often whispers lies that sound like truth: “You can’t handle this,” or “You’ll never catch up.” But pause here—these are feelings, not facts. Feelings are valid but not permanent, intense but not all-knowing. You have navigated moments of overwhelm before, even when it felt impossible, and each time, you have found your way through.
Even now, in the fog of too much, there is still something steady inside you. That part of you that got up today, that part of you reading this right now—it matters. It counts. You are not frozen, even if you’re moving slowly. That is still movement. That is still you choosing to try.
Consider for a moment what small action could create some breathing room right now. Not a sweeping, overwhelming solution—just one small step. Maybe it’s writing down a single task to complete, asking someone for help, or choosing to postpone something until tomorrow. Allow yourself permission for small actions that feel gentle rather than Herculean.
And if the small step today is simply letting yourself cry, or rest, or sit in silence for five minutes—that’s valid too. You are not lazy for needing to pause. You are not broken because your capacity is lower today. You’re responding to the weight of your life the best way you can in this moment.
Finally, remember this: you are not alone in this feeling. Many others have stood exactly where you are, feeling exactly what you’re feeling. Overwhelm is isolating, but the reality is profoundly human and deeply shared.
Give yourself the grace you would generously offer someone else in your shoes. Talk to yourself gently: “It’s okay that I’m feeling this. It won’t last forever. I’m allowed to take this slowly, step by step.”
Trust your resilience—it has quietly helped you move through countless tough moments before. It’s okay to slow down, reach out, and prioritize care. You’ve got this—not because it’s easy, but because you have the strength, even in exhaustion, to show up for yourself one gentle step at a time.
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