Feeling Overwhelmed?

Years ago, Dr. Dwight Stevenson, Dean at Lexington Theological Seminary, suggested to the seminary students a very simple solution to the problem of burnout. His solution was paradoxical and counter –intuitive. Nevertheless, it works.

“When you feel overwhelmed and it seems like you will never be able to get out from under the stress,” he said, “begin a brand new activity. make it something that you are interested in and have a passion but for doing and can do for the joy of the activity. Adding it to your schedule, will give you the energy and motivation you need to accomplish the important things that are making you feel overwhelmed.”

Dr. Stevenson’s system really works. What a person adds to their schedule, to make it work will be different for every single one of us. For some it will be making sure that we get a round of golf or a time for fishing built indoor schedule every week. For others it may be computer game time. For still others it may mean reading a book that we have had on our list for a long time.

If you can find an activity for which you have a real passion, it will give you tremendous energy to move beyond a period of stress, get control of your life, and accomplish more than would otherwise be possible.