Do you ever feel overloaded with too many options, too much information, too many people telling you what to do to succeed?
You’re not alone. Here’s an email I received, and my reply on the matter.
Linda said:
I don’t know if you will actually answer this, but I am getting frustrated because I am getting INUNDATED with various “I have the secret YOU need to be successful in life” emails / offers / programs / gimmes!
I certainly can’t do them all simultaneously, and while they may all be worthwhile, it seems to me there is a lot of redundancy. I am STILL trying to work my way through your materials, and I don’t know that I need to get something ELSE while I still have not finished what I HAVE!
…I feel like I am spinning my wheels with a “Lo here” and a “Lo there” … like the poor guy trying to catch the rabbit in the same way the fox / wolf / whatever did! Any words of wisdom you could share would be appreciated. Thanks! Linda
My response to Linda (with a few more little notes):
Breathe, Linda, breathe. 🙂
There’s a lot of noise out there, and you can trust that the RIGHT next step will be there when you’re ready for IT. Just because it’s good, it doesn’t mean you have to jump on it immediately. It will be there again when you’re ready for it, if it really is the right thing for you to do.
I don’t open all my soliciting emails. I only open them if I’m currently seeking an answer to a burning question, and only if the email that shows up seems like it might have the answer to THAT question.
I get information overload if I look at all of them. Sometimes I have to prioritize and say, “I just don’t have the mental bandwidth to wrap my brain around ANYthing else right now” – and then I go forward – at peace taking things at my own pace, knowing that I do not have to run faster than I have mental, emotional, or physical strength.
When the student is ready, the teacher appears. If too many teachers appear, get clarity on your overall objective. Once that is back in focus, the right ones will be obvious – you’ll know it in your gut – and the wrong ones in that moment will no longer have a magnetic pull on you.
Don’t be overwhelmed by too much good information. Stay focused on your goal, and the information you really need will naturally show up when you’re ready for it.
If you’re ready to learn more about the Rare Kind of Faith that causes things to happen, join me in the Mindset Fundamentals Ecourse. For just the cost of dinner and a movie, you can discover (at your own pace) how and why your world will change when you choose your thoughts more carefully. Click here to learn more.
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22 Responses
Thank you very much, Leslie.
I am much clearer than before, I realized that I should keep my speed rather than follow the all the good informations which gave me a frustration.
thanks again.
Hi Leslie,
I often feel exactly like Linda. You respond to one “we’ve got the answer for you email” and 20 more appear. You take the “freebie” and then more offers appear. My plate is full and overloaded.
Excellent advice. Advice I intend to utilise from now on. Excellent food for the soul, Leslie.
Thank you.
Adriana
Thanks for the thoughts, i believe in that saying and i’m confused in too much teachers!… I had also some experiences that my gut feelings help me a lot. Hearing my inner voice helps me to understand meanings in life and i am very happy for that. In a deeper level i realize that it’s not what i’m thinking but on the other way around. Thank you for the post it helps me to understand things…
God Bless and More Power!
Thank you for this post. Information overload has been one of my biggest weaknesses for several years. I’m frequently like the headless horsewoman running madly in all directions. I’m trying to slow down and focus on one thing at a time, and remember to breathe. Thanks again for your simple, yet wise words.
This was a perfect timed answer to a question I hadn’t really formulated but had been feeling overwhelmed about. What if I miss the information I really need doing something else.
It will come back if it is important.
Exactly my question. Thanks for the great answer.
Thank you Leslie. I found that I can only focus (I had to learn the “know how” on how to focus) on only one thing at a time. I have unsubscribed to 2-3 emails and it works! If it is my “jack rabbit”, it will be back.
I understand both Linda and you. I look for answers, then get so many, that I could be spending my whole day, my whole week with the overwhelming amount of information that can come at me. Then, yes, I have to be very selective, let most of the information go. Breathe, relax, take what feels most right.
Thank you! It's so good to know I'm not alone… I too have been EXTREMELY overwhelmed, feeling like I need to do all of these great things that are out there, and they're all coming at the same time, faster than I can keep up with. And guess what, I can't do ANY of them when I can't even get past my email. AND I can't truly focus on anything or truly absorb anything when I'm trying to do six programs at once. I will take your recommendation and try to keep my focus, slow down and do what's important to me for today. When I'm ready to expand into something new, I'll see what's available. (It'll still be hard though b/c I'm an email junkie! Gotta stop signing up for stuff!)
Thank you, Leslie — not a moment too soon.
I have been feeling the same way. I'm sure thankful for you, Leslie. You put this into perspective for me. I don't have to check out everything I get in my emails, and I have unsubscribed from some of them. This has eliminated a lot of confusion. Like you, if there is a burning question searing my brain, then I will look into what is offered. If not, I delete.
Clairetta Anderson
I like it. Good answer.
I was feeling overwelmed too and was coming to the same conclusion. Thanks for reinforcing the lesson for me with your answer Leslie. Thanks for asking the quesion Linda. I would have never thought to do so but it was exactly my concern. Now we all benefit.
I truely beleive in what you said in your response to Julie. To me it seems like a normal logical thing to do, sometimes we forget that we can filter out things that aren't important, but we need to focus on what is important in the moment and in our lives. Things like love for our Lord, our families and ourselves and then whatever else we need to do to reach our OWN goals, not those of the "bombadiers" of the marketing world.
Thanks, I really liked this answer! The same thing happens to me all the time and I've learned to pick and choose what's good for right now or what I'm interested in.
And that can change from day to day! I used to get mad or feel frustrated but then I remembered that I actually signed up for this list or that freebie and I can also undo it any time I want.
What a relief!
Have fun~
Randy Sandknop
Exactly right. You've got the best advice for your best question.
Thank you Leslie for posting this comment. I was feeling exactly the same – Overwhelmed. Your short, but wonderful, article really helped.
–Julie Gubler