Have you ever felt like the world was just too much? Like the voices, tasks, and pressures coming at you from every direction were more than you could manage? If so, you’re not alone. I’ve felt that way too—recently, in fact. Whether it’s the news cycle, your to-do list, family demands, or just the noise of everyday life, overwhelm has a way of creeping in and short-circuiting our sense of peace.
Sometimes, the things demanding your attention are good things. Other times, they’re just things—unfinished chores, unread emails, unanswered calls, unresolved grief. Either way, when too many things are calling out to you at once, it’s easy to feel paralyzed.
So where do we begin?
First, name it. Take a breath. Say it out loud: I feel overwhelmed. Simply acknowledging that truth can release a surprising amount of tension. And that breath? It’s more than air—it’s your body’s way of calling you back to the present moment. Slowing down your breath helps calm the panic, even if the tasks remain.
Second, get the swirl out of your head and onto paper (or a screen). Make a list of everything that’s shouting for your attention—big or small. Be honest. Include the laundry, the yard work, the emails, the grieving, the packing. Everything.
Once you see the list in front of you, choose one thing. Just one. Circle it. Highlight it. Bold it. Then go do that thing. Multitasking is a myth. Neuroscience tells us we actually switch rapidly between tasks, often doing none of them well. Focus on one thing for a set time—15 minutes, 45 minutes—whatever you can manage. When it’s done, celebrate. Pour a cup of coffee. Listen to a song. Breathe again.
Then return to the list.
You may not get through everything. Most days, none of us do. But progress isn’t perfection. Progress is choosing presence over panic, one task at a time.
And in case you need the reminder today: your value is not measured by how productive you are. Even in your overwhelm, you are infinitely precious and unconditionally loved—for the gift you already are.
Take heart. Take a breath. Start somewhere.
A Moment to Reflect
As you step away from this reflection, I invite you to pause—right where you are. Take one deep breath in… and slowly let it out. Let that breath be a reminder: you don’t have to carry everything all at once. The path forward isn’t through perfection or urgency, but through small, mindful steps. You are not alone. You are not behind. You are exactly where you are—and that is enough.
May you find the courage to start small, the grace to rest when needed, and the deep reassurance that no matter how heavy life feels, you are still infinitely precious.
Infinitely Precious 