Do you know the definition for overwhelm? Most of the world’s women live in overwhelm. Overwhelm wastes your life… and overwhelm blocks your joy. Overwhelm is a state of being overloaded with an excessive amount of anything; a state of being overcome in mind or feeling. How is overwhelm affecting you and those people you love?

If you’re like most women in the world:

* Don’t ever get a chance to relax * Don’t feel they can ever do enough * Don’t feel they can catch up with all they need to do * Don’t feel the demands on them will ever stop * Feel sad and hopeless about the direction of their lives

Women are set up to be overwhelmed because of the unique elements in their lives: women work inside and outside the home; women have the greatest love and commitment to their families; women often care for others; women receive a message from the world of what they should be; women lack energy and time.

As a woman, many of the physical and emotional symptoms you have could be the result of overwhelm and stress. Even other health related symptoms may be increased by overwhelm. The following list will show you many symptoms which are attributable to overwhelm. If you check 3 or more of these symptoms, it’s essential that you lower your stress:

* Lack of focus * Anger * Sadness * Weight problems * Exhaustion * Frustration * Resentments * Hopelessness * Loss of sexual interest * Health issues * Sleeping problems * Discouragement * Loss of humor * Crankiness * Relationship problems

Did you know that overwhelm seldom goes away, and it often gets worse? What would it be like to control the overwhelm and stress you feel, and get your joy back? Is it possible to get your quality of life back? Real change will require knowledge of what creates overwhelm, and an action plan.

3 feelings are present when overwhelm takes hold:

1. Feeling helpless to stop the factors that are causing overwhelm

2. You are not able to feel a real sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in what you do

3. A feeling of hopelessness knowing you do not see a change in your future

Overwhelm causes us to create agendas, plans, to control what is overwhelming us. Agendas are plans you construct to organize, communicate, eliminate, and dictate. When you have rigid agendas, you stop liking the person you have become. Others find you difficult and controlling. Your head takes over, and you lose the wisdom of your heart. You may try to maintain a sense of worthiness by staying busy.

There is a cure for an overloaded, overtired, overstressed, and overcome life. The first step is realizing that overwhelm is not in your house or in your career…overwhelm is in your spirit. Your spirit is that part of you which needs to feel purpose, which needs fulfillment, and which needs joy. To bring those feelings back to your life, you’ll need to connect to your true loving self, and connect to your own true values. Surrender your agendas, let your heart rule your head, and you’ll move from overwhelm to joy.

Carole Bryant is an author, speaker, and life coach who teaches people to create joy in their lives. Her work teaches growth through development of loving attitudes. Her audio course for stressed and overwhelmed women was created for women looking for more purpose and joy. Sign up for her free Joy Notes emails at CaroleBryant.com.