Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Really?!? I'm feeling overwhelmed? Today?!?
Yep. Just a day after doing the blog on feeling overwhelmed, and it comes knocking on my door! Thank you, Universe! I get to practice what I preach.
Why the overwhelm? Well, I just agreed to go to the waterpark this afternoon with some family friends. I feel like I "should" stay at home and work on my website; that nasty rules and obligations trap!
The truth is that I've been working like a maniac on my business, getting ready for my TV Life Coaching segment debut on Thursday. Yes, there is more that I could do, but there's always more that can be done. Going and having fun for the evening is not going to hurt anything.
As a matter of fact it'll take my mind off the big day, and that's a good thing.
So if I switch the word overwhelm to powerless, I'm feeling powerless. But I'm not willing to give my power away to the waterpark. It's ridiculous to feel powerless, because I'm choosing to have some fun with my daughter and friends.
But it's not so ridiculous if I'm displacing the feeling. Maybe the feeling is just coming out, and the waterpark decision doesn't really have anything to do with it. I'm really feeling powerless about the whole TV event. I can't control what questions the new anchors ask me. I can't control how well the segment is received by viewers. I can't control whether the producer likes me enough to keep me around. When I don't have control, I don't feel like I have power.
It seems logical -- of course a person feels more powerful when he or she is in control! But I'm talking about personal power here, and NOTHING can change that. No matter what happens in that TV studio, I'm still me. I don't need to give my power away to the anchors, audience or producer. I only have to be me and do my best. I can always rely on my perfect self to be there, with all my gifts, talents, intelligence, creativity and skills. My perfect self always goes with the flow and comes out unscathed.
So what about this feeling of being powerless? It's just a feeling; it's not the truth. And as much as I'm willing to feel that emotion, I'm not willing to let it (or my caveman brain) run my life. I'm going to feel it, but not react from it. I'm going to keep my power, thank you -- and just do my work during the day and have fun swimming tonight!
Why the overwhelm? Well, I just agreed to go to the waterpark this afternoon with some family friends. I feel like I "should" stay at home and work on my website; that nasty rules and obligations trap!
The truth is that I've been working like a maniac on my business, getting ready for my TV Life Coaching segment debut on Thursday. Yes, there is more that I could do, but there's always more that can be done. Going and having fun for the evening is not going to hurt anything.
As a matter of fact it'll take my mind off the big day, and that's a good thing.
So if I switch the word overwhelm to powerless, I'm feeling powerless. But I'm not willing to give my power away to the waterpark. It's ridiculous to feel powerless, because I'm choosing to have some fun with my daughter and friends.
But it's not so ridiculous if I'm displacing the feeling. Maybe the feeling is just coming out, and the waterpark decision doesn't really have anything to do with it. I'm really feeling powerless about the whole TV event. I can't control what questions the new anchors ask me. I can't control how well the segment is received by viewers. I can't control whether the producer likes me enough to keep me around. When I don't have control, I don't feel like I have power.
It seems logical -- of course a person feels more powerful when he or she is in control! But I'm talking about personal power here, and NOTHING can change that. No matter what happens in that TV studio, I'm still me. I don't need to give my power away to the anchors, audience or producer. I only have to be me and do my best. I can always rely on my perfect self to be there, with all my gifts, talents, intelligence, creativity and skills. My perfect self always goes with the flow and comes out unscathed.
So what about this feeling of being powerless? It's just a feeling; it's not the truth. And as much as I'm willing to feel that emotion, I'm not willing to let it (or my caveman brain) run my life. I'm going to feel it, but not react from it. I'm going to keep my power, thank you -- and just do my work during the day and have fun swimming tonight!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Overwhelmed? Take back your power!
Overwhelmed! I hear the word several times each day and am even guilty of using it myself. Since I’ve been working with personal power, lately, I decided to look up the definition and see how overwhelm relates to power.
Sure enough, one of the definitions is “overpower.” Even more specifically “overpower: overcome with superior force.” Boy! If anything is going to put me into my caveman brain, it’s the thought that something’s going to overpower me with some type of superior force!
So every time that I use the word overwhelmed, I’m actually telling myself that I’m being beaten down. Which is exactly how it feels when I’m overwhelmed. I feel exhausted, hopeless, dazed, frantic and powerless.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t even want to use a word that’s going to conjure up and sustain those feelings. Yet I don’t want to make the word “overwhelm” my adversary, either ... hmmm ....
I think I’m going to stop throwing around this over-used, nearly-meaningless word. Instead, I’m going to be honest with myself. Every time that I want to use the word “overwhelm” I’m going to use “powerless” instead. Then I’m going to look around at what is making me feel powerless. Is it my schedule? Do I have too many arbitrary obligations? Where exactly have I been giving my power away?
Sometimes this analysis alone will probably bring me out of my caveman brain. I mean, am I really feeling powerless because my floor needs cleaning and my laundry needs folding? Puh-lease! I probably just don’t want to do it -- maybe rebellious is a better word! And if I’m being rebellious, then aren’t I actually exerting power?
In some cases, though, maybe I really am feeling powerless. Maybe I really did overschedule myself. Ironically, I used my power to create a busy schedule that ended up draining my power. Having that awareness can help me avoid doing the same thing in the future, but right now, it’s all about claiming back any power that I can.
First, I’m going to stop being a victim. I’m not going to let my schedule (for example) be my adversary. Instead, I’m going to accept my schedule completely. Instead of wallowing in feelings of overwhelm, I’m going to become a player in the “busy schedule game.” A successful player in that game feels vital, organized, focused and efficient. I’m going to let those feelings guide me and my actions. That’s a powerful player, and that’s the player I want to be.
What do you think? How are you going to take back your power?
Sure enough, one of the definitions is “overpower.” Even more specifically “overpower: overcome with superior force.” Boy! If anything is going to put me into my caveman brain, it’s the thought that something’s going to overpower me with some type of superior force!
So every time that I use the word overwhelmed, I’m actually telling myself that I’m being beaten down. Which is exactly how it feels when I’m overwhelmed. I feel exhausted, hopeless, dazed, frantic and powerless.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t even want to use a word that’s going to conjure up and sustain those feelings. Yet I don’t want to make the word “overwhelm” my adversary, either ... hmmm ....
I think I’m going to stop throwing around this over-used, nearly-meaningless word. Instead, I’m going to be honest with myself. Every time that I want to use the word “overwhelm” I’m going to use “powerless” instead. Then I’m going to look around at what is making me feel powerless. Is it my schedule? Do I have too many arbitrary obligations? Where exactly have I been giving my power away?
Sometimes this analysis alone will probably bring me out of my caveman brain. I mean, am I really feeling powerless because my floor needs cleaning and my laundry needs folding? Puh-lease! I probably just don’t want to do it -- maybe rebellious is a better word! And if I’m being rebellious, then aren’t I actually exerting power?
In some cases, though, maybe I really am feeling powerless. Maybe I really did overschedule myself. Ironically, I used my power to create a busy schedule that ended up draining my power. Having that awareness can help me avoid doing the same thing in the future, but right now, it’s all about claiming back any power that I can.
First, I’m going to stop being a victim. I’m not going to let my schedule (for example) be my adversary. Instead, I’m going to accept my schedule completely. Instead of wallowing in feelings of overwhelm, I’m going to become a player in the “busy schedule game.” A successful player in that game feels vital, organized, focused and efficient. I’m going to let those feelings guide me and my actions. That’s a powerful player, and that’s the player I want to be.
What do you think? How are you going to take back your power?
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