By: Rose Anne Burgos Life has a way of throwing us into the deep end when we least expect it. I remember that feeling when everything seemed to be unraveling all at once. It felt like I was standing in the middle of a storm, each gust of wind carrying away pieces of what I thought I knew about myself and my world. It was a time when every day seemed to bring a new challenge, a new weight to carry.
There were days when the sheer volume of everything I was dealing with felt unbearable. It wasn’t just one thing—it was a constellation of worries, from personal losses to professional setbacks, each one adding to the burden. I felt like I was drowning under the pressure, and the horizon seemed to get further away no matter how hard I swam. It is hard to reach the edge of even that slight comfort where I could just rest my feet and catch my breath.
But then, something shifted. It wasn’t a sudden insight or a grand revelation; it was something simpler and more profound. A conversation with someone I look up to gave me the wisdom and support I needed to manage my mixed emotions, especially the grief of losing what I thought I had started strong. I was advised to break down the chaos into manageable pieces. Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, I focused on just one thing at a time. I learned that it's not about fighting the water that’s drowning me, but about finding my balance and staying steady through it.
I am telling you; it is not easy but I have to decide to take a single step forward—a small, deliberate action toward something I could control. As simple as making a cup of coffee and sitting quietly, perhaps completing this blog. I let myself feel the moment. This small act helps me feel steady when everything feels uncertain. It was a tiny, manageable thing that gave me a sense of peace and purpose. From there, I moved on to other small steps, like updating my notes tackling one task at work.
This approach didn’t solve everything, but it made my worries feel less overwhelming. By focusing on one thing at a time, I began to regain my sense of agency. Each completed task felt like a small win, moving me forward in the bigger journey.
If you’re finding yourself overwhelmed by the multitude of things demanding your attention, remember this: It’s okay to take things one step at a time. We’re not designed to handle everything all at once. Sometimes, the greatest act of self-compassion is to allow ourselves to breathe, to focus on just one small thing, and to acknowledge that it's enough.
Through it all, I learned that while we can’t always control the storm, we can control how we face it. Sometimes, having someone there to support you makes all the difference and taking things one step at a time isn’t just a strategy—it’s a lifeline.
“When life feels overwhelming, try breaking it down into manageable pieces. Each small step you take can help you regain control and find your way through the darkness. Sometimes, the greatest act of self-compassion is giving yourself permission to take things one step at a time.”
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