Overwhelmed – just writing the word makes me anxious. How does it make you feel? Do you live in a state of being overwhelmed? If so, you are not alone. 64% of Americans say they are taking steps to reduce stress in their lives and, according to the World Health Organization, an estimated 121 million people world-wide currently suffer from depression.
Think about some of the technology we have now (depending on your age, you may or may not have lived without any of this): ATM machines, television with hundreds of channels, DVR, cell phones, digital voicemail, and, of course, the internet/email. All of this is supposed to make our lives easier, and in many ways it does. But, in other ways, all of this technology adds to our to-do list, often leading to feelings of worry, stress, anxiety and depression.
A key to overcoming overload is to take 100% responsibility for your life. That is not to say that being overwhelmed is “your fault,” but it does mean that you are the only person who can get yourself out of it. “Take 100% Responsibilty For Your Life” is the first chapter in Jack Canfield’s (co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series) national bestseller, The Success Principles. Why? Because it is the foundation upon which you can build the life you want.
Imagine this scenario: You joined a gym to get in shape. You haven’t gone yet because you are too tired in the morning – you are out late every night with friends who, you say, make you feel badly if you don’t join them. Or, you stay up late every night watching television and then hit the snooze button one too many times. Or, you work late every night , eat dinner late and then stay up late to decompress from the long day (I can absolutely relate to this one. Can you?)
Now, let’s envision the above scenarios and change the outcome by taking responsibility for our lives:
- Friends want you to join them for dinner and then hang out at the bar. Though you enjoy spending time with your friends, your goal is to get in shape and you really want to go to the gym in the morning. You know you will be too tired if you go out after work. Instead of allowing peer pressure to overwhelm you, explain to your friends that you will join them one or two nights during the week, but the other nights you want to get home early, relax and get to sleep early so you can go to the gym in the morning before work. That is an example of taking 100% responsibility for your life and then you can have the best of both worlds – time with your friends and time at the gym. The result: a happier, more physically fit YOU.
- You stay up too late watching television and then hit the snooze button too many times in the morning. Now, you have to get ready for work and once again you missed the opportunity to go to the gym. Think about what you are watching – are you engrossed in history-making programs that will change the course of the world as we know it? Or, are you watching dramas about other people’s lives to escape the realities of your own? Get real with yourself and take responsibility for your life. Watch a comedy that makes you laugh and relax, then get into bed and read for a bit. You will fall asleep earlier and be rested to get up for the gym the next morning. What result can you generate in this scenario?
- Overwhelmed at work – working late every night becomes the norm and you are not eating dinner until 8, 9 or sometimes 10 o’clock in the evening. Take control. Think about why you are working late. Are you getting enough support from your boss, colleagues and staff? Have you talked to your boss about how stressed you are because you cannot get your job done in a reasonable amount of time during the workday? Of course, this may be a difficult conversation, but one that is necessary for you to take 100% responsibility for your life. I can tell you from experience, this conversation can yield greatness in you that you never thought possible.
I understand the above scenarios, in which you take 100% responsibility for your life, may not seem easy to do. Start slowly and create habits which shift your perspective on your life. Taking responsibility for small shifts will give you the confidence to make a transformation for your best life.
Your assignment:
- First and foremost, breathe. Write down some excuses you’ve used for not being your best you.
- Now, write out ways you can alter those excuses to create healthy, nourishing habits.
- Pick one to concentrate on for the next month. Once you are comfortable with this new habit, start with another modification to take 100% responsibility for your life.
- Register for my tele-class on April 27. A cleansing routine is a great way to begin taking responsibility 100% for your life.
This assignment will help you understand how you can take responsibility for your health and well-being. If you are concerned about your nutrition and lifestyle routines and know you want to do things differently so you can be your best every day, contact me or call 917-603-2318. At Bravo! Wellness, I work with my clients to create manageable lifestyle changes so they are able to achieve their greatest potential in life, health and business.
