Avoiding the Undertow: When to freak out

Our advanced human brains can handle a lot. We can multi-task like no other creature; we can develop intensely complex concepts while continuing to live our lives, feed our families, and drive a vehicle - sometimes concurrently! So its no surprise that at some point, our minds get overwhelmed and can even shut down - typically at the most inopportune moments. For instance, when you should be giving the most incredible presentation of your life, or when defending your dissertation that has completely run your life for the last 4 years, but suddenly, you can't speak - not even one intelligible word.

Do you ever feel like you're fighting to stay above the water? The waves just keep coming and you barely break the surface to breathe before the next one is crashing down around you, pulling you under, tumbling your thoughts and scattering your intentions - losing your progress in the vast space of the ocean. Meanwhile, others around you are soaring above it all? They seem to effortlessly achieve what you so diligently work toward and it doesn't even look like they are trying?!

I've been there, I've felt all of that, you are not alone. The American dream seems to be slipping into slavery to the almighty dollar. We work more than we ever have (and more than other first world countries), we are taking less vacation days than ever before, we consume more than ever before and yet, we find our days empty; devoid of meaning we can't sleep, we can't find the time to eat well or take care of our bodies, we spend less time with our families - all because we believe we are building a better future for those kids we only see on the weekends.

Balance is always just out of reach, and so our relationships suffer - those with our children, our significant others, our family and friends; replacing real connection with the forced intimacy that comes with working long hours in stressful situations where every bump is seen and addressed as a fire that only we can put out. Planning, HAH, we say - who has time for that?! I have too much to do to plan ahead, or 'that's out of my pay range' we try desperately to reduce our workload without losing our edge or our perceived importance to the company - so that our sacrifices are not in vain. Assuming we have to take time away from one area of our life in order to give it to another, we are consistently robbing our personal lives for our work ones.

No headstone ever read "I should have worked more" - what's really important to you? Yes, yes, money matters - without it no one eats or is clothed or is safe; but there are lots of things we could all do without if we truly wanted to do so. I'm not advocating living in your car or off your parents or anything drastic here; I'm saying - those moments, when you get home late and the house is quiet, the kids are asleep, and you have 5 minutes of quiet to yourself - do you wonder, "Why am I doing this?" or "How did I get here? How is THIS my life?" - this could be a mid-life or quarter-life crisis - but it doesn't have to be - instead, how about a mid or quarter-life transformation - a time of big change that is positive and reconnects you to yourself, your family, your purpose, your dreams for your life? Instead of freaking out - how about reaching out - to someone who can help you make these changes.

There's a different path, that leads to true happiness. Maybe you've just felt this craziness inside, but haven't been able to name it before now. First - you are not alone. Many of us get to a certain point, following what we have been told is the 'path to success', that sacrificing now will lead to stability and financial freedom later in life, only to find out that isn't always true. My Father made all his life plans for 'when I retire' - unfortunately, he was so sick he had to retire early - and none of those plans were ever actualized because of his sickness. He died with an unfulfilled bucket list. All we really have is RIGHT NOW, tomorrow isn't promised to any of us. If this was your last moment - where would you want to spend it? Who would you want to be there with you?

Are you ready to find the path to your life-long happiness? It's not difficult, but it does require change, not my ideas of what you should be doing - but your own ideas, aligned to your values and what you feel is important and meaningful for you and your family. Intrigued? Book a FREE Discovery Session with me for 45 minutes, where we can talk about what's missing for you and how I can assist you in breaking away from the overwhelm, the lack of meaning, the constant draws on your time, or whatever it is you are struggling with and ready to change. There's no commitment, just a conversation to see how we could work together to improve your present AND your future. It's my mission and purpose in life to create lasting, positive, impactful change for thousands through my gift of transformational coaching - help me make that a reality by clicking here and scheduling a time to connect! I can't wait to meet you!

#timemanagement #stress #balance