I gained clear direction in the midst of overwhelm with a breath

Breathe by Shawn Rossi

​Several years ago, I learned that overwhelm meant “trying to convince yourself that you can do something that you don’t really believe you can do.” That definition and the power and practice of taking a breath have helped me gain a new perspective in each situation that feelings of overwhelm threaten my peace and actionable intentions. So tonight, in the midst of feeling overwhelmed, I gained clear direction with a breath and am writing this post.

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I joined the #FFF2017 #FitFineFab 5-month challenge with motivational speaker Lisa Nichols on January 16, 2017 and it has been a transformational life experience that I had intended writing about this evening. I will share more about that challenge in upcoming posts. On yesterday, I was drawn into another challenge that I intended to start today. This challenge is a 30-day blog/writing challenge with Catalyst Coach Lisa Friedt. I love challenges because make me thrive in areas in need of improvement. Challenges have been proven to help me grow and develop personally and professionally so I am open and willing when one is placed in my path.
 
Today a sister-friend called to take me food shopping with no forewarning, so it wasn’t on my agenda for the day but an opportunity is an opportunity and the need to go was very real. I returned home around 3:30 pm and by the time I finished putting the food away, prepare my lunch, eat and enter my food in my phone app, check in with my FFF teammates, lay down for a moment and listen to an inspiring Facebook Live video on “4 ways to stay calm in difficult situations,” it was 6:20 pm.

Cold Breath by However-Improbable

​Although my body was feeling tired, I still had to honor my exercise commitment and shower afterward, eat dinner before 8:30 pm, provide care to my mother, write a blog post and prepare for church. Plus, I promised to return a phone call that I received while in the supermarket. I arose and got on my exercise machine at 6:25 pm till 7:02 pm, took a shower, ate dinner and fed my mom.
 
At this point, fatigue and overwhelm were closing in and my earlier comment to Lisa that I would be writing about the #FitFineFab challenge was about to become null and void. I took a breath, sighed deeply and decided that I would renegotiate with myself and Lisa to start the blog/writing challenge on Monday. After all, why stress myself.  I breathed again and felt, I actually do need and want to write tonight if for no other reason than to process my feelings. And since I publish some of my journal entries too, let the challenge begin!
 
​And so, I gained clear direction in the midst of overwhelm with a breath or two and ended up publishing this blog post for me and you. It is now 10:51 pm. Time to edit, find google images, tuck mama in, prepare for church, make a brief call and attempt to be sleep before 1:00 am. Sigh.
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#30dayblogchallenge #day1

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