We all have times in life when issues arise and we have complete capability to deal with them. Usually when challenges come in ones rather than multiples. These are the times we can consider our response calmly and tackle them head on.
Sadly, however, we also have times when our issues all seem to come at once and, at times like these, we can easily become overwhelmed with the (seeming) mass of challenges that descend on us simultaneously. It’s at this point we need help and/or another perspective to tackle them.
A few years ago, I remember becoming so overwhelmed, I started having a panic attack. An exceptionally unpleasant feeling of being out of control. Luckily, at that moment, I remembered I had downloaded a meditation App and dove into it quickly enough to level myself out… enough to function again relatively normally.
When we become overwhelmed, the first thing we need to do is stop. Take a deep breath and find a quiet space and take time (or use a meditation App) to ground yourself. It doesn’t take long, but it’s absolutely imperative when we feel we’re spiralling out of control.
Once settled, consider your issues like a pile of papers. File them mentally into issues of import, and deal solely with the first one in your stack of mental ‘sheets’, not even considering the rest. It’s impossible to deal with multiple challenges at once, so start filing. Only then, do what you can of the first issue, then file it under ‘to-do’ and forget about it for now. Then move on to the next.
At easier, calmer times we do this without question, but when overwhelmed, we can easily forget the simplicity of the ‘one-at-a-time’ principle. We can, and must be our own support. We have the capabilities: we’ve just forgotten them at that moment. Take the time to consult your calmer self and ask them what you would do at that point. They are exceptionally wise and always with us, so make friends with them. They will remind us that everything in life is temporary and our ‘pile’ of predicaments will drain away soon enough if dealt with calmly.