You Don’t Have to Live Overwhelmed

Do you ever feel overwhelmed with all the plates you’re trying to keep in the air? Do you ever wish you could just drop a few plates and relieve some stress?  Or maybe starting a new year is stressful in and of itself, because you think you have to set a bunch of self improvement or goal focused resolutions, knowing that you just don’t have the time, room or energy to add anything new to your life?

What about if instead of making New Year’s resolutions (that will probably only last for a week or two), you created a Personal manifesto or proclamation that will carry you through the rest of your life?  My friends Kathi and Cheri are sharing a guest post today on my blog from their new book, that can help you learn to do just that. What better time to determine to simplify and savor life than a brand new year?!

Read their encouragement below, and then enter to win a copy of Overwhelmed by leaving a comment sharing at least one thing you could possibly take off your plate this year which would help you have greater happiness. 🙂

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Learning to Love My Limits        

She’s only 20, but a horseback-riding accident has left her with a back injury. If she’s careful, she will keep her ability to walk. If she’s not careful … “I’m learning to live within my limits,” she tells me.

As she speaks, I listen for self-pity but detect none. Instead, I hear the strong voice of a woman who is accepting what she can and can’t do.I admire her.

When I was her age, I was launching my “Be All Things to All People” campaign. I spent decades saying “Yes” whenever asked, volunteering when I wasn’t. Not until my own back injury did I slow down and reassess.

Why does it take an injury or illness for women to recognize that we have “limits”? 

Why We Can’t Be All Things to All People

Most of us naturally rebel against the word limits. We want to keep all our options open. We want choices. We love slogans like “Be all that you can be!” and “If you can conceive it, you can achieve it!” The very air we breathe is saturated with FOMO—Fear Of Missing Out. We pour our time and energy into proving that we can “do it all.”

But what if we’re designed to do just a few things really well?  What if we’re meant to specialize?  In that case, wouldn’t endless possibilities become distractions from our true calling?

What if God actually means what He says in Ephesians 2:10 — that you are His masterpiece, created to do the good things He planned for you long ago? Not #AllTheThings.

Only the good things He planned for you.

No less … and no more.

It’s Time to Stop Ignoring My Limits

When I feel the urge to ignore my limits and “be all things to all people,” here are three things I’m learning to remind myself:
1)  As an HSP—a Highly Sensitive Person— I’ve never been able to pull it off #AllTheThings. Not even close

2)  Even when I’ve come close (as if!), nobody cared. Or even noticed, for that matter.

3)  I’ve wasted more than enough time and energy trying to prove nothing to nobody.

Are any of these true  for you?

The One Worthwhile Form of FOMO

There’s one form of FOMO that can help us stop trying to “do it all.” It’s the fear of missing out on the masterpiece God created you to be and the good things He’s planned for you to do. This FOMO reminds you that you are a limited edition of one.

God’s given you a few things that only you can do, and limits actually set you free. Free to focus on your one-of-a-kind specialty.

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I’m giving away one copy of Overwhelmed: Quiet the Chaos & Restore Your Sanity !  For a chance to win, click here to leave a comment sharing one thing you could take off your plate this year that would lead to less stress and more happiness. 

You can also sign up for great free ideas and resources about how to get out from Overwhelmed and receive “How to Write Your Personal Manifesto” as a special free gift to you by clicking here. 

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Kathi Lipp is a busy conference and retreat speaker and the bestselling author of several books, including Clutter Free, The Husband Project, and The Get Yourself Organized Project. She and her husband, Roger, live in California and are the parents of four young adults.

Cheri Gregory spends her weekdays teaching teens and weekends speaking at women’s retreats. She’s been married to her college sweetheart, Daniel, for more than 28 years. The Gregorys and their young adult kids, Annemarie and Jonathon, live in California.

 

17 Comments

  1. Melissa Henderson on Friday, January 6, 2017 at 8:45 am

    I have read this book and it is a good one. 🙂 Thanks for sharing about the book.



  2. Lynn on Friday, January 6, 2017 at 9:54 am

    Just listened to the excerpt from Kathy and Cheri on the personal manifesto. God really answered my prayers this morning as I have been struggling with this very issue and trying at the age of 61 to determine who I truly am. I was so inspired by their broadcast. I would love to have a copy of their book to further my journey.
    Thank you for this e-mail and opportunity.



  3. Lynn on Friday, January 6, 2017 at 9:56 am

    Oops! Forgot to mention the one thing to take off my plate for this year.
    that would be judgement of myself in not being everything to everybody.



    • Michelle, Kathi Lipp's Ministry Team on Friday, January 20, 2017 at 6:33 pm

      Great thinking Lynn! Wishing you many blessings as God continues to show you who you are in Him and in the world. Enjoy the freedom in loving yourself instead of judging yourself!



  4. Susan Ruffalo on Friday, January 6, 2017 at 11:31 am

    I would love to sweep unforgiveness off my list once and for all. Thank you!



  5. Georgann Owens on Friday, January 6, 2017 at 11:39 am

    One thing I can take off my plate this year that will cause me less stress…is to stop trying to run my adult son’s life. I need to realize I have raised him to the best of my ability, and he is a wonderful Godly man. He doesn’t do things the way I would do things. But you know what? That is ok. I need to stop criticizing.



    • Michelle, Kathi Lipp's Ministry Team on Friday, January 20, 2017 at 6:38 pm

      It’s a hard thing to do, but a great thing to do. Trusting God with your son’s future is a very safe bet. You’ve done a great job mom!



  6. Chrissy on Friday, January 6, 2017 at 1:32 pm

    Looks like a great book that I could use!!
    We moved from VA to MA this summer and temporarily living with family.
    One thing that I would like to take off my plate this year for less stress would be tension from living in close quarters. Also trying to fix things instead of trusting God…need to trust Him more!



  7. Nancy Silvers on Friday, January 6, 2017 at 1:45 pm

    One thing I haven’t taken off my plate is that my home doesn’t need to be perfectly clean and tidy to invite someone over or not panic if someone shows up unexpectedly and it’s a bit messy. I do my best to keep the clutter down, keep the bathrooms clean, dishes done and just relax and not worry about being judged for not being Martha Stewart!! They are coming to us not the house and if they are, well, that’s their issue and I refuse to participate!!



  8. Denise Torres on Friday, January 6, 2017 at 3:25 pm

    Great devotion and I’m sure this book will help so many women and their desire to “live”. As for myself I would love to surrender and take off the plate “the control of things”. Releasing all to Christ and trusting more, I believe would make my life that which Christ died to give me.



  9. Kellie Cooper Metzker on Friday, January 6, 2017 at 3:32 pm

    I rid myself of working in corporate America. I have my own business and pray for God’s guidance with this endeavor. I do not want this change to be overwhelming but a release of everyday pressures.



  10. Mary Lou Kleveland on Friday, January 6, 2017 at 4:23 pm

    I am looking forward to reading this book. I would like to stop expecting perfection from myself. I also need to be more realistic in what I can get done instead of overextending myself.



  11. Linda on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 9:12 am

    I would stop trying to be a perfectionist at work. I spend too much time double, triple and quadruple checking my work because I’m so afraid to make a mistake. I would love to read this book. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.



  12. Julie Sunne on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 11:37 pm

    I need to stop trying to “do-it-all” and just do those assignments God has for me.



  13. Marsha Kelly on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 5:59 pm

    Stop trying to be everything for everyone and just be me, The one God Made and Loves!



  14. Abel on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at 7:03 am

    Be rest assured that God will always have your back even when you fall. God loves us unconditionally. Peace be with you.



  15. Abel on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at 7:05 am

    You are uniquely designed by the heavenly creator.



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Tracie Miles is a bestselling author and the Director of COMPEL Training with Proverbs 31 Ministries.  She helps women grow stronger in their faith, pursue the life of purpose God designed them for and live a life of peace, joy and happiness despite their circumstances.

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