Discovering Why You Feel Blank Inside
How much more can we take? Do you sometimes feel like this new normal is flat out torture? I do. There are days when I feel like I can do this, that I can appreciate the silver linings of the pandemic and how we’ve come out better for our world being turned sideways. And there are days when I feel lost, helpless and full of so much fear that it makes me feel nothing at all. What do you do when you feel blank inside and feel uncertain about everything around you? I hate to say it, but this numb feeling of being in blank inside, is a common place us as high-achieving Mom's are finding ourselves. If you're like me, you may have had a timeframe in mind for how long you could hold on, power thru, and stay upbeat about the state we're in. For me, this was the new school year. In my head, this was the breaking point, if the kids can't go to school I don't know what I'll do - I can't do this for another year! Now that the school year is in question, my self-fulfilling prophesy is unfolding. I vary between feeling like a ball of anxiety and stress, to feeling absolutely nothing at all, disconnected from what surrounds me. I don't claim to have the answers, but I assure you I do wish for that magic wand on a daily basis. What I do have are proven tools and resources I turn to on a daily support in these uncertain times. I truly hope they support you as well. Read on to discover simplified ways to honor the difficult place you're in, and see hope for change.
Turn Inward
We love to look outside ourselves for answers and validation. It seems somehow easier to turn elsewhere for the answers, especially when we feel like we can't trust ourselves to have the answers. It's a natural reaction to uncertainty. But the moment you shift this and turn inward, listening to our own wise voice within, you take back your power. You take back trust in yourself, and this small shift is powerful. The simple step here is to turn inward and give yourself trust that you can make the next right step.
Focus Small
When everything feels out of control you want to make an overhaul, change everything, and make it all better now! I'm the same way, when it's all too much, every single thing feels wrong. But in these moments of feeling like your body is a ball of stress and anxiety, you have to take a step back and focus on one tiny bit you can change in the moment. You need a quick win, so you can be encouraged by this tiny shift. And most of all, so this tiny shift can build into 2-3 small changes, and snowball from there. This is one of my biggest pieces of advice, always start laughably small, because it's in those tiny micro changes that habits are formed and you can feel success and change happening.
I've been channeling a lot of Frozen II lately and asking myself to simply focus on the "next right choice." This idea blends both ideas shared here today, focusing inward and tiny changes. I find when I can boil it down to one choice, it can bring me back to the present moment and give me back confidence. Huge changes to make everything feel ok - not going to happen. One small choice to focus on, is not only doable, it’s where lasting change begins.
As high-achieving mamas you hold your family together in so many ways, and you certainly won't be able to show up for your loved ones in the way you want to if you're overrun by what life is throwing your way. One way to feel more grounded and confident is to give back to yourself. You may be shocked what 5 minutes of giving back to yourself can do. If you need this reminder, which I bet you do - you can't pour from an empty cup! Read this powerful blog post for both a reminder and resources for how to give back to yourself. If you don't give back to yourself first, no one else will.