Is it possible to feel both calm and overwhelmed in the same breath? | Mumma Life is now

Before we dive into this topic, I wanted to share my personal experience with this energy of being overwhelmed and calm at the same time, especially as I am sitting in the energy of the full moon.

For me, this duality of emotions is not something that I have previously felt until more recently.

In the past, when I would feel overwhelmed, it would completely consume me and I wouldn't feel any sense of calm.

However, in recent months I have been able to experience moments of calm even when feeling completely overwhelmed by the heaviness of what I am currently facing. This has been a huge breakthrough for me and it has allowed me to tolerate stressful situations a lot better.

So what is the explanation as to why is it that we can sometimes feel both calm and overwhelmed in the same breath?

There isn't necessarily one answer to this question, but here are some possible explanations:

1. We are constantly fluctuating between different emotions.

2. Our emotions can vary depending on our surroundings.

3. We might be experiencing two opposite emotions simultaneously.

4. Our emotional state can change rapidly.

5. We might be suppressing our feelings of overwhelm.

The above might be the textbook explanations for these conflicting emotions, however, what I know to be true for me, is that I am feeling a deep knowing of who I am and what I am here to do. This is where my calmness and contentment come into play.

If you are feeling a similar wave of emotion, what do you know to be true around what is causing these mixed emotions?

To share a bit of my own personal journey, previously I was constantly in my head, overanalysing and being paralysed by fear. However, I am now at a place where I am balancing out my emotions and I am actively letting go of fear and anxiety.

I am not going to lie, having lived that way for the majority of my life, where I relied on the dominance of my logical thinking, getting out of my head and into my heart has not been an easy feat.

This continues to be a challenge for me and it is something that I consciously work on every day and yes I still get into my head far too often. Let's just say I am still an apprentice at it!

What I will say though, is the power of finding that place, a place like no other, where you feel at home within yourself. It is bliss!

Have you found that place?

How often do you feel so calm and have such a deep knowing of who you are and what you are here to do?

If you haven't found this place, don't give up on it, because there is nothing that compares to it and by settling for less, you are stopping yourself from truly living.

Some tips on how you can get more calm and contentment into your life:

1. Find time for self-reflection every day. Even just 5 minutes.

2. Practice meditation or mindfulness.

3. Connect with nature. Barefoot if possible!

4. Spend time with people who make you feel good, and it goes without saying, you need to really limit the time you spend with people that do not make you feel good.

5. Make time for activities that you enjoy.

6. Live in the present moment as much as possible.

All of the above have played a role in me finding this place of inner peace, even if it's only fleeting moments, however being able to get into a deep meditative state rather quickly, has been a game changer for me.

If you were like me previously and couldn't think of anything more boring than meditating, for me to be here, sharing that my daily meditation practices are now one of my favourite parts of the day, that's saying something.

Attending a guided meditation class in person every Saturday morning is also quickly becoming one of my favourite times of the week. The peace and contentment I feel when I am in that state is next level and I walk out feeling so incredibly refreshed, reset and grateful to be alive.

What activity do you enjoy, that brings you back home to yourself?

Are you making time to plan this into your weekly schedule?

If not, what is it costing you to not prioritise yourself?

It's important to explore this feeling because it can be a difficult place to be. But with some understanding, we can find ways to cope and even thrive in this space.

So if you're feeling both calm and overwhelmed at the same time, please know that you're not alone.

Let me know in the comments how you've been coping (or not coping) with this duality. I'd love to hear from you.