When It’s All Just Too Much

Depending on where you are located, you’re going through varying degrees of lock-down.

And depending on the people closest to you, you’re witnessing how people are processing what’s happening in all kinds of ways.

On Monday last week, I decided I was going to heed the advice of doctors and practice social distancing by working from home.

At one point during that week, I developed a fluttering in my heart known as an arrhythmia. It didn’t hurt, but I knew it wasn’t good. So I went to the doctor.

She asked me about my caffeine intake. I told her that I used to take a medium-sized Yeti of coffee to work with me in the morning and drink it over the course of a couple hours. Working from home though, I would fill my mug with coffee and then go get another cup when that one was finished. This essentially doubled or tripled my intake of coffee.

Her advice: lay off the coffee, drink more water, and chill the f*ck out.

That’s good advice for you too. If you are experiencing any kind of anxiety and you’re still drinking coffee, it’s time to do your body a favor and give it up.

If you like the ritual of it, switch to herbal tea (which has no caffeine) or hot water with lemon.

And if you need to chill the f*ck out too, I highly recommend breathing. It’s the weirdest thing, but I would catch myself holding my breath. Like I was bracing myself for whatever might be coming next.

The answer: belly breathing. Relax your belly and let it expand as you take a deep breath in. Then let it collapse as you breath out. Do 10 of these breaths as often as you can. A good rule of thumb is to do it every time you sit down at your computer.

Thankfully all of that is working because it’s been several days now since I’ve felt that fluttering in my chest.

If you’re having the thought, “It’s all too much,” make a list of everything you’re doing that’s contributing to that thought. Actually write it down. Then, decide what you’re going to do change those things.

The most powerful thing you can do is to make a decision. The only way to be certain about anything is to make a decision.

Don’t let other people tell you how to feel about your situation. Instead, decide for yourself how you’re going to feel about this whole thing. Are you going to decide to feel panicked and worry about the future? Or are you going to decide that no matter what, you’ll get through this and be a better person for it?

When the negative thoughts creep in, did you know you have the power to shut those down? In that moment, decide to be grateful. Ask yourself (out loud if needed), “What do I have to be grateful for right now?”

That’s a pattern interrupt. Your primitive brain is working on how to survive and it’s probably make you feel terrible. Your higher self can take over simply by asking a positive question.

And don’t just answer the question and then move on. Feel the gratitude flood your body with white light and warmth.

Decide that it’s not too much.

Decide that you’re not going to give all your power away.

Decide to take control of your schedule and create a new normal for yourself and your family.

Decide that no matter what happens, you will triumph!

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