How to deal with constantly feeling overwhelmed?

Move from a scarcity to an abundant mindset with“Plenty to love”

You may wonder what this week's blog has to do with competitors. Well, tennis, sport and business are all played by people and all people have to navigate life. My experience has taught me repeatedly that it is difficult to do anything well if the head is full of voices and uncertainty. When you are constantly feeling overwhelmed.

What it means to feel overwhelmed?

I’m going to take a lighter look at life today. Yes, we all have problems and there are many things that are unpleasant in the world. Some things are downright horrible. It’s cruel like war, people trafficking and a myriad of crimes and illnesses. 

How are you? Fine, thanks.

However, we get and generate feelings from what we focus on. So whilst remaining aware that we are fortunate, we have a responsibility to ourselves to make the most of our life, do things we enjoy, and love without guilt. We can focus on all the wonderful things that surround us and bring us joy. Gratitude is a word that is increasingly being used to help people recognise all the good things in their life. It is so easy to slip into talking about current affairs or problems in life at every opportunity because people ask how we are doing. 

Where should your focus be?

It is easy to focus on all the problems we have to solve, but in order to get the best out of our lives, it is actually better to focus and talk mostly about our pleasant experiences and the great things that are happening for us.

Wake up and smell the roses!

Step into a garden and observe a small piece of nature. Wonder with amazement how fantastic life is in all forms. 

What to do when you are overwhelmed?

I have frequently made players:

• go for a long walk in nature, or on the beach when they feel overwhelmed or
• if they were really stressed, make them go for a long run or bike ride before talking things through.

The exercise and open space always create a calmer, better perspective and thus a better quality conversation.  

It is easy to think about your friends and quickly bring to mind some fantastic moments and experiences you have shared. It is easy to look at family and everyone with their little quirks that makes them who they are. Smile in appreciation for who they are and what they bring to your life.

The small pleasures in life

I encourage you to make a list of all the small pleasures you have in life.

Here are some of mine:

• A quiet evening at home with Joy just watching some TV
• Watching grandkids pretty much anytime. 
• Dinner with family with everyday conversation. 
• Listening intently to a client and finding the right questions to ask or a relevant analogy that changes their perspective. 
• In full flow coaching on court. Time flies. 
• Adrenaline and the buzz of speaking on stage. 
• Early morning tea on a lovely summer’s day on our balcony listening to the sound of birds
• G&T on holiday overlooking the sea, or any lovely setting. 

What I’m doing now in Belgrade? Sitting outdoors in a cafe intermittently working and people watching. 

This list is infectious and I’m feeling I could go on and on. It’s a great way for players to undo the stress of overwhelm and start solving problems from a better and more grateful lens. 

The pathway to happiness

Once you go down this path, it quickly becomes apparent that there is so much joy and satisfaction in small everyday life that doesn’t take much or any money to have often. 

Live in the Moment

To me, living in the moment means taking the present in and not thinking about anything. It’s more about being active in the present, being there, feeling appropriate to the moment. Thinking about the amazing moments in our past will bring many smiles to your face. 

Perhaps if more people were in this positive energy state, a place where we feel love, fewer decisions that hurt others would be made. 

The tough ego to cover for insecurities makes for a lot of misery, but let that sit with those who live in their own world of false importance because ultimately we all live for just a speck in time.

I prefer as much as possible to be a happy speck in time and focus on the good that happens every day in what is largely a wonderful world.

Written by 

David Sammel