Feelings Aren’t Failures, They’re Feedback
There will be days like this. Photo by Sarah Kilian on Unsplash.
A gentler, smarter way to navigate overwhelm, stress, and off-days
One thing I’ve learned to do for myself (and offer as something you might try) is to treat what’s happening inside me as information. That feelings aren’t a fire to be put out, but feedback to be factored in. Clues. Information.
Something to get curious about
On days when I feel off (like today), instead of powering through or judging myself harshly for it, I might try to pause and ask:
“Hmm, I’m noticing how exhausted I feel when I look at my to-do list. What’s going on there? What is this feeling trying to tell me?”
When we’re brutally honest about how much we’re trying to do — and how much energy we actually have for it — it can feel overwhelming or even dreadful to stare down the list of expectations we’ve set for ourselves. And in those moments, we often scramble to make ourselves feel better.
We numb out, overcompensate, procrastinate.
And that’s okay. Let’s accept it and move on.
Because the real shift happens when we start to meet those reactions with curiosity instead of shame.
Here’s the trick:
Try to hold yourself accountable to more realistic expectations. Ones that allow you to feel proud of what you can do, while respecting your actual circumstances.
For example:
“I’m too tired to power through eight hours of work today. What’s a more realistic plan? Could I commit to four focused hours, and call that a win?
What would need to be true to make that happen?”
Because if the work isn’t going to get done and you need a break anyway, there’s no sense in bullying yourself about it.
Listen to yourself, take in the information, and respond accordingly.
Want to make this actionable?
Here’s a daily prompt you can do in the morning (or anytime you need it):
Instead of grabbing your phone and catching up on all the updates you missed, take a moment to check in with yourself for the latest news from within.
Do a body scan meditation or other simple inner reflection.
What’s your current state telling you?
And then ask yourself:
With this information, what’s a more realistic plan for today?
If you’re a fellow overthinker, creative, or leader trying to turn messy signals and mental noise into meaningful action, you’re not alone.
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