Which Whelmed Are You?

People often talk about being Overwhelmed.

Overwhelmed with life, with work, with people sapping our time, energy, confidence or money, with having no time and too much to do, or emotional overwhelm for things that have happened in the past, or things you worry about now or about future events.

We allow ourselves to become overwhelmed and drown in “stuff”.

With some simple decision making, you can change everything you are overwhelmed about.

You decide what overwhelms you, you allow it to, so you can decide to not let it overwhelm you. Of course, it’s not easy at first; you’ve only gone and conditioned yourself to be you and you know no other way. You can’t just re-condition yourself with the click of your fingers. But you make that one decision that you are not going to allow yourself to become overwhelmed and you seek the knowledge and help you need to change.

I was once overwhelmed with lack of confidence, poor body image and low self-worth. I suffered panic attacks and couldn’t look in mirrors. I coped by drinking. A lot. But at age 33 I made that one decision that this was not a healthy happy life. I stopped drinking, I failed. I stopped again. I read books, started exercising, got some cognitive behaviour therapy and radically changed my self and my life. On 13th December 2017, I will be 8 years clean, sober and happy.

Overwhelmed doesn’t have to be the norm.

The other “whelmed” that I think people don’t recognise enough or take enough action to change, is feeling Underwhelmed.

If you feel underwhelmed with life, work, people, events or you lack positive emotions about life in general or your self, then you need to recognise this and take action so that you’re stimulated and interested in living. Sleep-walking through life is not a fulfilling life. We need to be fully engaged in living this magical thing called life.

Underwhelmed doesn’t have to be the norm either.

Remember you have created the life you are currently living. Even the things that are outside of your control, you control how you think and react. Overcoming your biggest pains, struggles and challenges can become your biggest strength. This strength empowers you and you can use it to help others going through similar struggles.

Which whelmed are you? And what decision are you going to make to change it?