Are you feeling overwhelmed once a week? Once a day? Here will be a key reason why:
You will be spending too much of your EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL ENERGY ON THINGS THAT ARE OUTSIDE YOUR CONTROL.
We all do this. I do this. I find I am in a right old frazzle and then stop to see what it is I am feeling so overwhelmed about and sure enough…it will be something outside my DIRECT control. Der Louise! That’s basic, but SO easy to slip up on!
Checking in on this cuts through the overwhelm instantly as it allows us to self-direct our mental and emotional energy to the place where it has the most impact. Overwhelm dissipates pretty much immediately.
Here’s a handy graphic and a list below for you
So, if you are feeling overwhelmed check in and see if your attention is one (or more) of these…
Out Of My Control…
- What other people believe, think, say, or post online
- What other people choose to do, including their behaviour, decisions, priorities, and boundaries
- Other people’s feelings, including how they feel about me (yup, sorry!)
- Other people’s opinions or worries
- Other people’s time
- Outcomes (as opposed to my effort)
- Timing of external events
- Random events or luck
- The past
- Global news
- Market conditions or economic shifts
- Cultural norms or societal expectations
- How quickly others change or grow
- External opportunities appearing or not appearing
- Illness or unexpected health events
- Aging
- Time
- Tax
- Traffic
- The weather
Hmmm…quite the list huh? There is A LOT that we do not control, my friend. Like A LOT. When we focus on it, and how it coulda/woulda/shoulda be different it is a fast track to feeling overwhelmed. We want things to be different, but we have no control in them being different, equals overwhelm. It’s a real waste of our mental and emotional energy.
So, here is where should we redirect ourselves to:
In My Control…
- What I say, including my words and tone
- What I think – full control over my own brain!
- What I do, including my actions and responses, priorities and focus
- My opinions about myself and others
- How I interpret situations and the meaning I give events
- My effort and consistency
- The standards I set for myself
- Whether I follow through on commitments
- How I spend my time and attention
- What I look at online and choose to put into my mind
- My self-care choices and how I choose to take care of my body
- What I consume (food, media, information, influences)
- My habits and routines
- Who I hang out with
- The boundaries I voice
- The questions I ask myself
- Whether I ask for help or support
- When I choose to persist or pivot
Notice how you feel, when you read the first list, as compared to when you read the second list…quite different, yes?
Whenever you feel overwhelmed (and this is life in 2026, that is inevitable) the key is to see WHY you are overwhelmed, track it back to the first list. Accept that it is out of your control and then take your attention – and therefore your MOOD – where it matters, back to your own sphere of control. Your power and your positivity lie right there, and are available anytime.
I hope this helps
P.S, If you’d like to know more about my Academy, click here
