You know those days when you realize you have so much on your plate you’re not even sure where or how to begin? Yeah, I’m there today. I’m so there. We have a lot going on with Hot Mama and that’s amazing, but it can also be extremely overwhelming.
Life and business and Motherhood…frig, there’s a lot of pressure. And no, I’m not writing this as a “whoa is me” at all, I’m writing this to let you know that you’re not alone. When you feel like you have 8000 things on your plate and you’re the only one who can do it? Yeah…I’m there. Or, there’s a list of 8 bajillion (it’s a number, ask my 6-year old) things that need to get done, but you need to rely on your team (or family or friends) to get them done but you’re not sure you can rely on your team to get them done so you start freaking out because who’s going to check on those 8 bajillions things that need to get done because now your small team is also a woman down (cuz she’s just had a baby) and you’ve just sold a bunch of franchises (YAY! Super mega-YAY!) and all the people involved in your life and business including both experienced franchise owners and new franchise owners and Mamas involved in your programs and your kids and friends and your family all deserve and need time with you but there’s so few hours in the day and I know this is a run-on sentence, but it could go on and on and on. Yeah…I’m there.
And then you get an email that asks “can you quickly…” or a text that says “sorry to bother you but…” or a phone message that says “I imagine you’re super busy so I won’t take much time…” and all you want to do it get up from your desk, walk away and fly to Mexico with your family. You know those days? I’m there. But, I would never do it because I’m needed. I’m needed right here. And, that’s gift and I don’t take this gift and this life of mine for granted. But, some days…it’s just so massively overwhelming.
And no, this isn’t a plead to stop messaging, texting, phoning, writing to me. This is my reality and I love it. I truly do. I wouldn’t change a thing. And if all of a sudden my phone was silent I would worry, so that’s not at all what I’m saying. All I’m saying is that some days are just incredibly overwhelming…and that it’s okay to feel like this. I give my self permission to feel like this. Because today is busy. Today is overwhelming.
Today I started to make a list of all that needed to be done, it looked a little something like this: Livestream, YouTube videos, write blog posts, create new fitness programs, encourage others, inspire others, be a Mom, be a business owner, be a Founder, start podcasting, write a campaign proposal, write a workout, write a recipe, write a fucking book. And my list goes on and on and on. And no matter what I do, it’s not enough. I’m not enough Mom. I’m not enough business owner. I’m not enough sister. I’m not enough friend. I’m simply not enough.
But how freakin’ amazing is all of that. I created this. I’m on this journey and you’re with me, right beside me. That’s mindblowing to me. Mind. Blowing. You’re here. And the busy-ness of my days is because I want to do more for you, for me, for my family. I want to be more. And YES…I KNOW that I’m enough. But today, it simply seems like I’m not.
So, how do we get through days like this? Days filled with lists and overwhelm? I dunno. Today I’m not. I’m writing this post. And I don’t know if I’ll post it or if this is just a rant I’m allowing myself to write but this has been the easiest thing I’ve done all day. Writing about overwhelm. I can write about this all day. All. Day. Because that’s how long my list of to-dos is.
Super odd sidebar: I wish people understood that even though you think I’m successful, I feel I’m not. I’m not even close to where I want to be. If you look at my life and you think “yeah, she’s got it going on”…think again. I struggle. Every day I struggle. I know there are people out there that don’t wish me well and I try not to think about them, but I do. I give them too much of my thoughts and my energy. But how do you stop when you care so much? How do you cap this complete feeling of overwhelm? And battling against the naysayers and the people who say they get it but don’t?
What can I do? I can write. I can exercise my gift of writing (although this post seems to just be more of me vomiting my emotions). There’s no ground-breaking information in this post. I’m not sharing a workout or a recipe or an inspirational quote. I’m sharing with you the fact that although my life’s goals are to build an empire, raise my kids, and be a good person, today I’m just desperately trying to survive.
Being an entrepreneur you live with a fairly high level of overwhelm every day, but today just seems exceptionally…um…overwhelming. Some days are honestly, hell. My mind doesn’t stop. Think about this: when you wake at 3am, most of your turn right back over and fall back into slumber. Me? On a day like today? My mind starts going. Who can I help today? What tools can I provide to someone that would help get them off their butts and moving? Who haven’t I spent time with lately? Who needs me? What else can I do? When will I get that done? Or this done? Or that thing over there done? Or that thing my team has been hounding me about…when will that get done? How will that get done? What systems can I put in place to get that done? How can I help more? Be more?
This feeling of overhwhelm doesn’t hit me often, and it usually happens before something unlocks and something big happens…but in this moment, I would give anything to be through it. Tomorrow I’m sure I’ll wake with a clearer head and a “doable” to-do list. But today? Today I struggle and I know there are others out there struggling with overhwhelm right along with me. I simply wanted you to know that you’re not alone.
So, we’ll fight through this today. And tomorrow we’ll come up with a plan. But today…today we survive. We do our best. We accept that it’s not all going to get done. We accept that we’re going to disappoint people. And we accept that we’re going to also inspire people. We also accept everything in between.
My goal every day is to survive and inspire. Today the focus is purely survive. And survive I will. There’s no other option. BAM!
I’ll kick you in the teeth tomorrow, Mr. Overwhelm. You’re winning this round. But I’m going to take the entire match.
Let’s go, Mamas. Let the overwhelm wash over you, accept it. But don’t you drown in it. We got this.
With respect,
Linds
ps…I’ve already worked out…twice…so that’s not it either. LOL. I KNOW someone will comment about getting out and getting active! And how awesome is that?! Woop!