Unplugging from Overload

Part of weeding our mind gardens is lightening our physical, mental, and emotional loads. In order to do that, we need to give up our robe and scepter and relinquish the crown of Master or Mistress of the Universe! I love the little letter making the email rounds a few years ago: “Today, you are not in charge of everyone and everything, everywhere. I am. Love, God.” Although I chuckled when I first read it, I find myself using it a lot. It’s especially good to remember when my jaws are clenched and I am working like mad to make something happen that I, as the Queen of the Universe, think appropriate. Simply telling myself that God is in charge, not me, is very comforting, and helps me loosen my talons a bit and let things be.

Much of our overload is self-chosen. We say “Yes” when our schedules and hearts cry out for “No.” We take responsibility for other people’s happiness, which is an exercise in futility, since we have very little control over anyone’s happiness but our own. We hurry, hurry, hurry, not realizing it keeps us stuck in one spot because we have no time for reflection. When facing challenges large and small, we inundate our minds with self-sabotaging scenarios instead of tuning to “What can I learn from this?” We allow our minds to become judgmental taskmasters and harsh critics, rather than entertaining companions and perceptive counselors.

But, since we’re in charge of plugging into overload, we are also totally capable of unplugging as well.

Excerpted from How to Stay Upbeat in a Beat Down World by Sue Patton Thoele. Available on Amazon.