Some Inspo For Those Drowning

In overwhelm.

We’re all drowning.

We haven’t yet evolved for the modern digital age of swimming in endless notifications and emails while simultaneously juggling 26 different projects. And maybe we won’t ever fully evolve for this.

Maybe humans are built for something else, like focusing on bringing the few meaningful things in their minds into existence.

We thrive in simplicity.

But we love to overcomplicate things.

Something I have come to learn is trusting that you will find what you need to find when you need to find it rather than worrying about being on top of everything. A metaphor could be stepping into a river to catch a fish. You don’t try to catch the whole river; you just get the fish you need.

It’s all about seeking the right goal.

For example, maintaining inbox zero is not your life’s work. You never win. The next day, it’s piled back up again. If you’re not careful, this constant clearing of the decks can crowd out your most important work, the stuff you would be proud to have achieved one day.

And if you get really good at responding to everyone, guess what?

You’re rewarded with being known as the responsive person, which leads to even more responses to answer.

Have you ever had one of those frustrating bosses at work who never seem to answer your questions? They are secretly hoping you will rise up and answer your own questions.

I remember once speaking to a friend, saying that I wasn’t coping with DMs on social media as I juggled work, writing, parenting two baby boys, and trying to live a fulfilling life. I came to see social media as a trap which was sucking up my free time. He shared something I needed to hear:

“As for behind on messaging, don't worry too much about it. If we force ourselves to keep all convos going, we'll suffocate. I often think the important convos will make their way in front of us.”

What resonated for me?

The idea of having faith that who we need to converse with will rise out of the sea of noise.

Rather than getting hung up on trying to respond to everyone in the moment, I could trust that I will get back to who I need to, in time. And that’s ok. I shouldn’t be losing sleep over it.

Especially since having kids, I’ve found my bandwidth for chatting to random strangers on the internet has dried up as all my free time is now occupied with family responsibilities.  

I’m not sure what it is about me, the introvert inside or my years of shyness, but the thousands of shallow “connections” on social media don’t do it for me. I prefer diving deep with a few people. I know some people love it, but the endless requests are draining!

However, one good thing about the internet is that you can find a small tribe of like-minded peers where you can connect, support each other, and grow together. This is truly wondrous!

You’ll find what you need

I have found this idea of trusting you’ll find what you need to be solid.

Tonight, this was proven.

I sighed as I opened my inbox to see 2,303 unread emails staring back at me like I had inadvertently stumbled onto the stage of a packed crowd at Madison Square Garden. I had a quick scroll, then randomly clicked on an email from a newsletter I subscribe to but haven’t opened their weekly posts for months.

You like plenty of things, and you would love to support them more, but you don’t have the time, so you tune in when you can.

I dove into the email, and its contents struck me as exactly what I needed to hear in that moment.

Call it coincidence or divine power, but the magic of the situation really struck me. Things arrive just when you need them. And it’s ok if you ignore the noise in between.

Then again, a friend reached out during the week, sharing some good news in their life. He accompanied the news with this:

“Sometimes, and I feel especially in times when we feel lost or don’t make progress – these things come just when the time is right.”

Too right.

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Reflection

How can you pull back from the brink of overwhelm and start to trust that things will work out fine without stressing over every single minute detail?

And that what you need will arrive when you need it?

Curious what it was that hit me at the right time?…