“Do not ruin today with mourning tomorrow.”
— Catherynne M. Valente
Ever feel just a bit overwhelmed? Or truly overwhelmed?
This brief article is for YOU…
Once, there was a man who wandered the desert for three days without a drop of water. Just when he was about to give in, he spotted what looked like a lake a few hundred yards away. “Is it real? Or could it be a mirage?” he wondered.
Using the last ounce of energy he had, he stumbled toward the lake only to discover that (more…)
“Do not ruin today with mourning tomorrow.”
– Catherynne M. Valente
Ever feel just a bit overwhelmed? Or truly overwhelmed?
This brief article is for YOU…
Once, there was a man who wandered the desert for three days without a drop of water. Just when he was about to give in, he spotted what looked like a lake a few hundred yards away. “Is it real? Or could it be a mirage?” he wondered.
Using the last ounce of energy he had, he stumbled toward the lake and quickly realized that his prayers had been answered: it was no illusion — it was a magnificent spring-fed lake brimming with more fresh water than he could ever consume. Yet, despite his dire thirst, he found it impossible to drink. He simply gazed into the water.
A traveler on a camel from a nearby town noticed the man’s strange behavior. She dismounted, approached him, and inquired, “Why aren’t you drinking, sir?”
He looked up with a weary, distressed expression, tears forming in his eyes. “I feel like I’m dying from thirst,” he admitted, “But there’s far too much water in this lake to possibly drink. No matter what I do, I can’t possibly finish it all.”
The traveler smiled gently, knelt down, cupped some water in her hands, brought it to his lips, and said, “Sir, your moment now, and as you proceed in life, is to recognize that you don’t have to consume the entire lake at once to quench your thirst. Just take one sip — only a small sip… and perhaps another if you wish. Concentrate solely on the mouthful in front of you, and gradually, much of your anxiety, fear, and feeling of overwhelm will diminish.”
. . .
If that tale resonates with you at this moment, it’s time for a few wake-up calls:
1. In life, we can only take one sip at a time.
Today, challenge yourself to concentrate only on the sip (task, step, etc.) you are currently taking. Honestly, life consists of small, positive actions that we undertake moment by moment. Eventually, when you reflect back, it all culminates into something meaningful — something often quite different and better than what you envisioned at the outset.
If you’re struggling to identify where to begin, keep in mind that jotting things down is helpful. Everything tends to feel far more overwhelming in our minds. So, escape your thoughts by writing everything down in small, manageable tasks (that can be addressed gradually). The smaller, the better. Even writing the list can be part of the tasks (see, you’ve already checked off the first item). Then you can tackle the next tiny task, and check it off, and the next. This practice fosters a sense of gradual achievement and a measure of control over your environment, which alleviates the feeling of overwhelm, or at least allows you to cope as you progress… one “sip” at a time.
2. We often engage in countless tasks that don’t need doing.
Our lives become highly complicated, not in a moment, but over time. The complexities sneak up on us…
Today, I place a few orders on Amazon, tomorrow someone gifts me a birthday present, then I get excited and enroll in a church giveaway and win, causing me to feel the need for a new six-foot cabinet to organize my growing clutter. One item at a time, the mess accumulates in my space as I continue to bring in new things without getting rid of the old.
This pattern extends into all areas of life as well…
Today, I agree to a Facebook party invitation, tomorrow I say yes when a neighbor requests help moving furniture, then I get invited to a quick lunch meeting, followed by a decision to volunteer in my child’s youth group. One “yes” at a time, and soon my life is so full and complicated that I lose control and can’t pinpoint where things went awry.
Feeling stressed, I opt for distractions…
I read several articles on Apple News, then check my social media, followed by my email, and next, I watch a cute video of my niece that my sister texted… and in no time, another day has slipped away without accomplishing anything, and my life evaporates one small “sip” at a time, leaving me overwhelmed with what remains unfinished.
How can we guard against this unending cycle?
We need to regularly step back and assess what we’re actually doing and why.
Instead of thinking, “Oh my goodness, there’s too much to do!”… let’s ask, “Should I even be doing all of this?”
The crux is that people don’t get more accomplished by mindlessly working more hours on everything that arises. They achieve more by adhering to thoughtful plans that prioritize and measure key objectives and milestones. So, if your goal is to be more successful and less stressed, don’t rush into making something quicker and more efficient until you’ve first asked, “Do I need to do this at all?” Just because you can do something well doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to undertake. It’s somewhat ironic that we lament having so little time, yet we organize our priorities as though time is limitless. So, do your best to hone in on what’s genuinely important, and let the rest go. (Note: Angel and I delve deeper into this in the Success chapter of “1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently”.)
3. It’s essential to say “NO” to some really good things.
Opportunities and obligations abound, but establishing a healthy and productive routine requires effectively managing your agreements. Sometimes, you must decline genuinely good opportunities and responsibilities. You can’t always be agreeable — that’s how people take advantage of you, and how you might inadvertently take advantage of yourself too. You need to establish clear boundaries!
You may need to say no to certain favors, work assignments, community organizations, church groups, volunteer efforts… coaching your child’s sports teams, or other seemingly valuable activities. I can hear your thoughts: it feels unfair to decline when these are worthwhile activities — it pains you to say no! Yet you must, because otherwise, you could end up doing a subpar job at each one, feeling overwhelmed, and trapped in an endless cycle of busyness, ultimately leading to a breaking point.
In truth, what keeps many of us ensnared in a debilitating cycle of overwhelm is the misconception that we can be everything to everyone, at all times, playing the hero in every scenario. But that’s not the reality. The truth is you’re not Superman or Wonder Woman — you’re human, and you have limits. Therefore, you must abandon the notion of doing everything, pleasing all, and being omnipresent.
In the end, you will either excel at a few endeavors or fail at many.
Now it’s YOUR turn…
Absolutely, it’s your moment to recognize the difference between being dedicated to the right pursuits and being overcommitted to everything. It’s your chance to allow for vacant spaces in your calendar, maintaining an organized life with a less packed schedule, allowing for a foundational structure that provides a soft landing, ample margin for error, and room to reflect and breathe.
But before you go, please take a moment to comment below and share your thoughts on this piece. Your feedback means a lot to us. 🙂
Which point above resonated with you the most? How has feeling overwhelmed impacted you recently?
Lastly, if you haven’t yet, be sure to sign up for our free newsletter to receive fresh articles like this in your inbox each week.