Overwhelmed? Here are 5 New Ways to Get a Fresh Perspective!

Life. Am I right? It can get a little overwhelming at times. This time of year especially can tip the scales towards the crazy for people. Kids are going back to school, Summer fun is winding down and because #SeptemberIsTheNewJanuary, we’re all looking over our 2015 goals and wondering what Super-Human version of ourselves was supposed to accomplish those.

 

 

No? Just me? Well, hang with me anyways.

 

 

We’ve had a few things hit us this week, some were minor irritants, those “little foxes.” And some we’re massive, like the tragic loss of a friend taken too soon from our earthly perspective by illness.  And yet, in the same breath, there are some really exciting things on the horizon as well. Life is so beautifully strange; This crazy mosaic that only makes sense when you can see it from Heaven’s eyes.

 

 

In this day & age whether you’re “little miss even-keeled” or you run a little more on the “high strung” end of the spectrum, we can all lose perspective. And sometimes we need a little something to pull us back to reality and keep us grounded.

 

 

If you’re anything like me, sometimes it’s not the big things that can be overwhelming; it’s the embarrassingly simple little details. The embarrassingly simple little details that swirl at you all at once demanding attention.

 

 

In my opinion, there are 3 options when you feel your brain and emotions kicking into overload:

 

A. Run and hide

B. Have a Snack. No, you shouldn’t eat your feelings (Thanks MeanGirls) BUT your bloodsugar could be low, here’s what to do about it

C. Whip out your big-girl strategy.

Today, we’re going to zero in on option “C”.

 

 

While listening to a podcast recently, I heard Joyce Meyer say,

 

“Too many of us are listening to ourselves when we should be talking to ourselves. “

How true and is that? I’ve been oh-so-guilty of letting my feelings boss me around. And doing that, well it can stop you dead in your tracks. So today, let’s do something about the overwhelm friends. Let’s Keep Calm and let’s kick fear and overwhelm in the face with a little strategy.

 

 

Here are My Top 5 Ways to Gain Perspective and Gain it Quickly!

 

 

 

1. Water:

 There’s something about getting by water that’s incredibly soothing to me. It puts life in perspective and reminds us that the same One who created that water and is currently holding the world together… is holding you together.

BUT, just in case you can’t physically get by water at the moment, I’ve taken the liberty of bringing the water to you. 😀 In February, I was by the ocean for 3 days and I captured this video. I hope the view soothes your soul today.

 

 

And while we’re on the subject of water, drink some. That little shot of oxygen to your brain could be just what the doctor order to help you fight off the overwhelm. Maybe even get crazy and squeeze some lemon or lime or…have you had grapefruit in water? #SoGood

 

2. Music:

 

Music is such a powerful tool. It can literally shift the atmosphere of a room. And if you’re needing to get your head on straight, you could be just one song away 🙂

If you’ve been reading along for a while you know I l-o-v-e a good playlist.

So here are 3 to help you out when “that mood” strikes:

This one is the perfect antidote to the overwhelm

 

This one is perfect for when the blues have got you down. (Case of the “Monday’s” anyone?)

 

And this one, well this one is an awesome date night playlist juuuuust in case the reason you feel overwhelmed is that you need to connect with the one you love 😉

 

And seriously, when life gets pretty dark, this is always my go-to song: Come to Me-Jenn Johnson Bethel. Because they’re nothing better than going to the Lord when life is hard and doesn’t make sense.

 

 

3. Write:

 

Sometimes the BEST thing you can do to gain perspective is to get everything in your head, outside of your head. That’s why writing can be so awesome.  So whether you need to Journal it out or Type it out. Do it. It’ll help.

 

And while you’re writing, maybe the only thing you need to do get your perspective back, is to grab a planner; writing down and scheduling  in all the things consuming your mind.

 

I’m currenly using this Day Designer I picked up at Target and SERIOUSLY, I can’t tell you what a game changer it is. Plus, the Stripes make me ridiculously happy.

 

 

 

 

4. Laugh:

 

I can take myself WAY to seriously sometimes and I NEED to laugh. Laughter can bring perspective like no other. It can breathe life into even the darkest of situations causing you to become more positive and optimistic. Kids totally get this. Kids laugh about 300x a day. It’s true, I read it here.

 

But us adults, we laugh, well the stats are all over the map, but the HIGHEST I found were 20x a day and that’s high, some websites said 4! Yikes!

 

 

 

Could you use a little help in the Laughter department? Well have I got an app for you. Quick, go download “Heads Up.”

Its an interactive 2+ person game you play on your phone. And bonus, it records your game on video!  I can’t say anymore, because I won’t do it justice. Just go download it. It’ll be the best $0.99 you’ve spent in a while. I can’t even tell you how many times this has helped Chris and I at the end of a long day…We even spent an entire Date Night playing Heads Up…in our basement…because we’re cool.  😉

 

 

5. Be Thankful:

 

Here’s a quote from Steven Furtick that could just change your life.  Let it get deep down in your heart.

 

“Gratitude re-interprets the situations in our lives. The attacks of discouragement will never stop coming, BUT if they’re met with praise at the gate, they won’t find entrance into your heart.”

Thankfulness is like an “Automatic Perspective-Shifter.” When we conscientiously focus in on the blessings in our lives, we remind ourselves of all the beauty God has put in our world, instead of zeroing in on the few areas where we feel lack.

 

The next time “overwhelm” comes knocking at your door, shift your perspective.  If you begin saying outloud what you’re thankful for, I gurarantee it’ll help.

 

AND just to help remind yourself what you’re thankful for, we created this handy dandy Free Printable from this Post on Overcoming Discouragement.  Bonus!  It comes in 3 colors…because I’m girly like that 😀 Just click here.

 

 

 

Feeling overwhelmed can so quickly cause our lives to feel small.  Let’s fight back together.  What’s your favorite strategy?

 

Until Next Time,

Meg