Overwhelm

I know the feeling of overwhelm.  I know the results of reaching overwhelm.  Sometimes, though, it takes a good friend or a skilled coach to help us recognize the behaviors just before reaching overwhelm.  We need help sometimes pinpointing what is making us feel as if we are in overwhelm.  Then, encouragement is so vital to help you through the results of overwhelm.  My first response is to run away when I just can’t take it anymore.  And then, I still have to come back and deal with it.

Here’s one story about overwhelm:

Imagine working on a home improvement project.  You decide to declutter your home one room at a time.  While you love collecting things and displaying them – gifts from various parts of the world or hand made items from your children – these are a form of input to your senses.  Without even realizing it, you have become overwhelmed from all this stuff.  The response may then be cleaning the clutter.  The constant decision making – and yes, it is decision making – while cleaning and working towards your goal of home improvement, is exhausting.  This cleaning process also takes you to feeling overwhelmed.

So, I need to paint the interior of my home.  I decide that I am not going to put everything back on the walls or on the shelves after painting.  Other things are going to be happening in the future (like also replacing carpet) so I purchase good storage containers and protective wrap to put things away for awhile.  I have been carefully cleaning all my collectibles and taking things off walls to fill in nail holes, and use the shop vac to do what I can to prepare the walls and 3/4 room dividing walls.  So, currently where I had walls of pics of family, art work, and special places the walls are now bare.  A totally different perspective of my home exists.  It is kind of weird to walk down the hallway or sit in my front room.  And I’m thinking, where is the balance in my physical environment?  I need some stimulation and then, I don’t want to feel overwhelmed when I enter a room.

One of my favorite resources for thinking about this is from my mentor, Dr. Meggin McIntosh.  She has shared her ideas with me and others about being in overwhelm and just being whelmed.  She has some great tips for us who want a better handle on overwhelm at: http://tinyurl.com/ny7zyx.

These past few days I’ve sure needed to remember her suggestions!

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Remembering the Dream Part 2

Following is a continuation of my thoughts from ‘Remembering the Dream.’  Again, if you want to read the whole document just click here to download it.  My secure shopping cart will pop up and don’t worry, there is no charge.

Connecting the thoughts of your quiet time to present is a challenge for some individuals.  The question that comes up is, “How does the past help the present?”  Well, I draw on the learner inside.  My learner challenges me to ask, “What do I  know as a result of my past behaviors, experiences, emotions, etc.?  How are the experiences of the present the same and different?  Which behaviors were beneficial?  How can I use the energy of my emotions to push me forward?”  These are just a few examples of how I connect things.  Making the connection is different for individuals as we have different strengths in the way in which we learn.  I have more ideas for you to explore.  Consider working with one of these techniques.

Choice 1) Draw two circles that overlap each other.  This is called a Venn diagram.  On the left side write down events of the past.  On the right side write down recent events.  In the middle where the circles over lap put down words or phrases that come to mind which describe how these events are similar.

Choice 2) Make a time line of life events.  Place your paper horizantally.  Draw a straight horizontal line.  On the left side edge write birth and on the right side edge write present.  Now, write down events in your life sequentially.  If the memory of the event is positive, write it above the line.  If the memory of the event is negative, write it below the line.

Choice 3) Draw a T-Chart.  Place your paper vertically and using the whole page draw a “t”.  On the top left write ‘event’ and on the top right put the word ‘effect’  Then begin listing different events.  Sequence is not necessary.  When ideas come to you about what effect that event had, make note of it on the right side.

So, now you have put some beginning thoughts on paper.  Skipping the step of writing things down will make the next  part more difficult, so I strongly recommend writing things.  Remember, no one else needs to see what you put on paper.  If the examples seem like too much work, at least journal write your thoughts to help you with the next part – making the connection of the past to the present.

(Click here if you want to know what to do next.)

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3 Notions of Giving

The day nationally celebrated to remember our early American heritage approaches. I have a few notions about giving to share with you.

~Giving is a daily choice we make. We give to God, to our self, and to others.
~Perfection is not necessary. We are not perfect people. We do not expect everything to be given to us to be perfect, do we?
~Presentation is important. Presentation includes our attitude and/or motive.

When we give, we take a risk. We take the risk of rejection. We take the risk of being accepted. We take the risk of letting go of a preconceived idea. Thanksgiving on the United States calendar is a tradition. Giving is an act of your spirit.

Consider the many ways you give. Consider who you are as a result of giving. What do you give to God? What do you give to your self? What do you give to others? List these thoughts. Then ask yourself, “Do these actions fall in alignment with my core beliefs or core values?” If your actions do fall in alignment, then a sense of peace may be felt in your spirit. If your actions do not fall in alignment with your values, then a sense of distress may be felt.

We are finite beings given a finite amount of energy. We are also uniquely designed. How much energy I give in one area of my life is not likely to be the same quantity as another member in my home or a good friend. We need to recognize that this is okay. Different seasons in our life will also engage us into giving in different ways.

God sees our heart.
Humanity sees the quantity.

Kelly J. Eveleth
Your Mediator to the Learning Process

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More ‘Plunks and Ripples’

I have another ‘Plunks’ article available for reading at EzineArticles.  This is my third writing on this theme.  I have a fourth one also in the works.  So, if you are interested, here are the articles and links:

First article: ‘When You Feel the Plunks and See the Ripples’

Second article: ‘Recognizing the Plunks and Ripples’

Third article: ‘Growing Through the Plunks’

Fourth article: I am waiting for approval and will post soon.

I’d love any feed back you have for these articles.  I have more articles on EzineArticles.com also.

Have a great day!

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Autumn Greetings!

“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us.”  ~Joseph Campbell

Autumn and all its glory is here!  The crisp air and smells that winter is coming.  And, my body constantly reminds me of the change in barometric pressure.
A truth in which I live is that there is a time for everything.  Our Creator provides opportunities for us to live and different seasons are given for us to experience.  Times exist in which we must let go of something so that we can fully experience our journey on this earth.  The time has come to let go of the summer activities and embrace the upcoming events with thanksgiving.

Consider the current events in your life.  Describe the season you are now living.  What do you need to live this season of your life more fully?

Your Mediator to the Learning Process

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