Overwhelm.
In my recovery, what do I do when I am in overwhelm?
I learned from my sponsor, that turning to alcohol to take me away or check out is not the solution for dealing with the stress of my life.
She told me to, “Pause. Take a deep breath. Pray. Ask for God’s guidance. Then wait. Then act and trust God for the outcome.”
Ok. Then what? Wait for what?
Wait for the peace and calm that comes from asking for God’s help and for guidance on next steps for a response.
Oh, ok. That sounds like a good approach!
I tried her approach and it helped me center me. It calmed my brain and made me able to respond in a kind, gentle and loving way. To not jump into the chaos with others by reacting. Overwhelm for me comes from taking on something that is not mine. As in, when others are in crisis and run to me, as another friend says, “Comin' in hot” with their issues, looking for answers that I do not have.
Or, committing to something I don’t want to do or I am not able to do right now. Committing immediately because I don’t want to disappoint the person who is asking.
I don’t have to carry the world. It is not my job. Here is what I am learning in the interaction with others in my life: Pause. Then, pray and ask God to guide and direct my thinking, then proceed to respond and trust God for the outcome.
It sounds simple, but in my head and in my own pride and arrogance, I think that I can “fix” this or change it on my own power. Help this person. Solve that problem. Commit to that person just to please them. When, in reality, I am not that powerful. Ha ha.
God is.
If I turn to God humbly and ask. This has worked for me for many days in a row—in fact, 7,536 days of sobriety. Try it a few times and see. Just a suggestion.
Pause.
Pray.
Proceed.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7
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