Fighting the Overwhelm

I’ve recently come out of a season of much needed rest. The career I’d been building for so long was destroying me physically, mentally, and emotionally. I left it just before Christmas and took a wonderful holiday with family and friends. I gave myself a chance to breathe. It wasn’t easy, as I had gotten used to being on the go all the time, but I finally managed to wind down and just enjoy things.

Rest also gave me time to think. A lot. Maybe too much.

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Leaving this career wasn’t just leaving a job. It was leaving a lifestyle. I had been building something for ten years, thinking it was what I wanted, but in the end realizing that it wasn’t truly fulfilling.

I wanted to shift focus. To invest more in relationships than hours on the job. To work on skills that will help me and that I can pass on to others. I’d been wanting to move more towards the homesteading lifestyle, and now I have that chance.

And I want to do all the things. I want to grow things (a natural impulse when everything is dormant for winter). I want to raise a bunch of animals. I want to preserve and bake and take care of a home.

And I want to do it all now.

I am at the precipice of a season of growth, and looking at it from a distance feels . . .

Overwhelming.

I start thinking of all the things I have to get done. Maybe not today, but it has to happen eventually. I have to read a bunch of books. Listen to a bunch of podcasts. Talk to a bunch of people. Learn everything.

It made me feel behind. Panicked. Like maybe I was getting in over my head. And on top of that, I was trying to pack an abscess on one of my horses while memories of the old job came flooding in.

Stop. Pause. Remember what is True. God is good. He reminds me to take a moment and just breathe.

So I did. When the reality of everything hit me the other day, with the possibility of overload, I stopped and remembered what I have.

I have a great family who supports my dreams. I have wonderful animals and plenty of feed for them. I have access to countless resources. I am blessed.

So I did the next right thing. I cleaned up the barn a bit. That wasn’t so hard. That led to cleaning the nesting boxes and rebedding them. That was satisfying and made the chickens happy. Okay, things weren’t looking so hard anymore. I cleaned up the yard a bit. Felt even better. I listened to some good podcasts that got me excited for the next steps of learning.

I know I won’t always remember right away to stop and listen to the Lord’s voice when I feel in a panic, so I have to set reminders for myself. There’s a Psalm next to my bed that I can look at often. I write this down so I remember what I’ve learned.

So when the weight of everything feels crushing, first stop and be thankful. It’s a simple act that refocuses you on what’s positive instead of the hard things. Even in the midst of the worst life circumstances, practicing thankfulness provides a sustaining light.

Write down your dreams. That helps me reorient my trajectory so I can determine what’s really important, what will get me there. Seek the Lord’s guidance. He will answer if you ask.

And do one thing. It can be something small. Throw out expired food in the fridge. Check in with a friend. Clean something. That one small act can easily snowball. But don’t feel pressured to get everything done today.

Invest in what nourishes you. Good food. A steaming cup of tea or coffee. Conversation with loved ones. A good book or podcast. Or just sit outside and observe Creation. May it remind you of your Creator and how much He loves you.