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When too much is too much

By Andrea Kartika Deierlein

November 3, 2021

Happy November! 

It’s a new month – and for me, it’s a new year too… as this is also my birthday week ;-)

It’s been a while since I last posted an update… and I hope that life has been treating you kindly. I know that for many of you, October was a big month, with lots of challenges and shi(f)t happening… 

That’s why resilience is so important. I love this definition by Dr. Michael Gervais: “Resilience is the ability to deal with difficult situations – and continue to move forward.” 

No matter how challenging life is, I turn to nature to remind me of new beginnings and that change is part of life. Here's a sunrise picture I took at Rye Beach last week.

Yet here’s what happens to most people. Challenges and difficult situations arise – and they get overwhelmed…

Overwhelm can feel like living hell. It’s impossible to ignore and this sense of everything is too much can be quite debilitating. You know that you are in overwhelm when you keep thinking or saying, “This is too much,” “I can’t take this anymore,” “I feel stuck.” Emotions bounce from anger, fear, frustration, even to a sense of depression. Does this sound familiar?

I am no stranger when it comes to this is too much. For decades, I was a pro at “regulating” my feelings. Stuffing them down. Keeping them in. Plowing through my to-do-lists. Smiling while my inside was crying, with pain, frustration, sadness. To cope, I turned into a busyholic perfectionist. The busier I was, the less I had to feel. I constantly ran on empty, fueled by caffeine, chocolate, and adrenaline. 

Here’s what I learned since then: When we feel good, we are in alignment, in tune with ourselves, on track. When not, we are off – and it hurts.The body talks. Sometimes scream even. The more we get back in tune with ourselves, the quicker we can course correct. You are not meant to be depleted, stressed, and anxious. All. The. Freaking. Time.

Today I’m here to remind you that relaxation and self-care are not luxuries, but necessities.

There is even research that proves that relaxation must be on top of everyone’s list of priorities.

Slowing down may seem counter-intuitive, especially when things are piling up. But when you slow down, take a few moments to breathe, you can find clarity again. You may want to write a list of what needs to be done and reprioritize, or take a moment to examine your thoughts, actions and reactions in certain situations, or listen to your intuition. You may have heard me say this before: to listen also means to become silent.

I know this is hard, really hard. Utter and complete silence can be blissful peace for some, but torment for others. Find what helps you slow down and find your version of silent, so that you can listen to what’s important for you and what you need.

Not sure you can do this on your own? You don’t have to. Let’s set up a time to talk. I’d love to hear about your situation, and see if I can help. Click here to set up a time to chat or to book your next session.

My wish for you this month is to take excellent care of yourself and be in alignment with yourself, knowing what brings you silence, and enjoy life.

About Andrea Deierlein & Thrive Reiki:

I'm a Reiki professional, who specializes in stress regulation and resilience building, so you can gracefully navigate life’s challenges and live your truth. Let’s get to know each other and connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram @andreadeierlein.

For more information: www.thrivereiki.com