27

Too Busy to Breathe? 5 Simple Strategies to Overcome Overwhelm

My dear friend, imagine us sitting together under a banyan tree, a warm cup of chai in our hands, the world buzzing around us. You tell me how your days feel like a runaway train—emails piling up, deadlines looming, and a to-do list that seems to grow faster than you can keep up. Your heart whispers, “I’m so overwhelmed.” And I nod, because I hear you. That tightness in your chest, that restless hum in your mind—it’s real. It’s heavy.

You’re not alone in this. Did you know that a 2021 Gallup study found 80% of adults worldwide report feeling stressed or overwhelmed regularly? Or that the American Psychological Association says 77% of people experience physical symptoms from stress? This isn’t just your burden—it’s a shared human ache in a world that’s forgotten how to pause.

Why It’s a Modern-Day Problem

In today’s world, busyness is a badge of honor. We wear it proudly, don’t we? “I’m so busy” slips off the tongue like a mantra. Social media shows everyone’s highlight reel—perfect careers, perfect homes, perfect lives—and we feel like we’re racing to catch up. Notifications ping, calendars overflow, and somewhere along the way, we’ve traded silence for noise, connection for comparison.

We’re taught to do more, to be more, to fill every moment with action. But in all this running, we’ve drifted from the quiet space within—the space where peace lives. Could this be why you feel so exhausted… even when you’re doing everything “right”?

Vedantic Spiritual Insight

Let me share a simple truth from the wisdom of Advaita Vedanta: You are not the storm. You are the sky.

Your thoughts, your to-do lists, your stress—they’re like clouds racing across the vastness of your being. They come and go, but you, the silent witness, remain untouched. Overwhelm feels real because you’ve mistaken yourself for the storm. You’ve forgotten you’re the boundless sky, watching it all unfold.

This isn’t about fixing your schedule or silencing your mind. It’s about remembering who you are. You are not your racing thoughts. You are not your endless tasks. You are the awareness that sees them, calm and eternal. When you rest in that truth, overwhelm begins to dissolve—not because the world changes, but because you see it from a higher place.

Practical, Soulful Action Steps

Here are five gentle, soulful ways to step out of overwhelm and back into your true Self:

1. Pause and Breathe Like a Friend: For two minutes today, sit quietly and watch your breath. Don’t control it—just notice it, like you’d notice a dear friend’s smile. Let it anchor you to the present.
2. Whisper Your Truth: When overwhelm creeps in, pause and say softly, three times, “I am not this storm. I am the sky.” Feel the spaciousness that follows.
3. Gift Yourself One ‘No’: Say no to one non-essential task today. Do it with love, not guilt. This is you honoring your inner peace.
4. Walk with Awareness: Take a five-minute walk, noticing each step, each sound, each breeze. Let the world remind you of its quiet rhythm.
5. Write to Your Overwhelm: Spend a moment writing a letter to your stress. Thank it for trying to protect you, then gently release it.

These aren’t tasks to add to your list. They’re invitations to return to yourself.

Hard Truth + Inner Resistance

Why do we stay stuck in overwhelm? Because we’ve learned to love the storm. It feels familiar. It gives us a sense of control, even when it’s exhausting. We avoid silence because it asks us to face the truth: that we are enough, just as we are.

This isn’t your fault, dear one. It’s the conditioning of a world that equates busyness with worth. But you can dissolve it. You can choose to step out of the storm and rest in the sky of your being. It starts with one small, courageous pause.

Challenge of the Day

For the next 24 hours, every time you feel overwhelmed, pause for 10 seconds. Close your eyes, take a slow breath, and whisper to yourself: “I am not this storm. I am the vast sky.” Notice how your heart softens, how the weight lifts, even just a little. Write down what you feel afterward in a journal or share it with a friend.

7-Day Sky of Awareness Challenge

For the next seven days, commit to one small practice each day to reconnect with your true Self:

• Day 1: Practice the two-minute breath observation.
• Day 2: Say no to one task that doesn’t serve your peace.
• Day 3: Take a five-minute aware walk, noticing the world without judgment.
• Day 4: Write a short letter to your overwhelm and release it.
• Day 5: Repeat “I am the sky” three times at three different moments.
• Day 6: Pause for 10 seconds whenever stress arises, and breathe.
• Day 7: Reflect on your week. Journal: How does it feel to rest in your awareness?

Quick Interactive Quiz: Are You Over-Identifying With Your Thoughts?

Answer these questions to see if you’re caught in the storm or resting in the sky:

1. Do you replay the same worry or task in your mind five or more times a day? (Yes/No)
2. Does one urgent email or comment throw off your entire mood? (Yes/No)
3. Do you feel like your stress is stronger than your ability to handle it? (Yes/No)
4. Can you sit in silence for two minutes without reaching for your phone? (Yes/No)
5. Do you ever notice your thoughts without getting swept away by them? (Yes/No)

If you answered “Yes” to three or more questions, your mind might be running the show. That’s okay—it’s a sign your soul is ready to wake up. Try talking to Your Awakened Friend on the platform for deeper clarity and gentle guidance.

Uplifting Spiritual Closing

Dear one, the fact that you’re reading this means your heart is already stirring, seeking the peace that’s always been yours. You are not broken. You are not your overwhelm. You are the vast, unchanging sky, and every storm will pass.

What if peace isn’t something you have to chase? What if it’s already here, waiting for you to stop resisting it? Sit with that question today. Let it bloom in your heart.

Some moments in life feel like a knot we can’t untie. What if there was a presence that simply sat with you, holding space without judgment? Try talking to Your Awakened Friend on the platform. It’s a gentle step toward the peace you’re ready to rediscover.