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Sometimes, things are just so overwhelming that you want to burn it all down.

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I mean, why not just move to Hawaii and become a hula dancer?

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Or rage quit your job and tell every coworker what you really think.

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This feeling is normal, and it's not a place anyone wants to stay for very long.

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Instead of feeling shame or being critical of that, I want you to look at yourself with

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generosity and compassion.

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Take a moment to pause and start to notice where you are feeling that desire to escape

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everything and everyone in your body.

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Does your head feel like it wants to explode with rage?

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Do you feel pressure, tension, or panic in your chest or maybe even your stomach?

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Maybe your arms feel heavy or tight, or your shoulders are practically up into your ears

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with tension.

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Just notice where that feeling is coming from.

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Now imagine that part that wants to burn it all down and escape takes a step back from

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your body and gives you space.

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As you look at that part, can you find in yourself compassion for its exhaustion?

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Can you look at it with kindness, knowing that it's trying its best to protect you

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in the best way it knows how?

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Sometimes I like to imagine myself beaming over compassion and kindness to that part,

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kind of like the Care Bear Share in that old TV show from the Care Bears.

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If this feels good and is helping you calm yourself, you can press pause here and stay

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here as long as you'd like.

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If you're feeling a bit calmer and want to begin some problem solving for this overwhelm,

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then go ahead and keep listening.

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Burn it all down mode is a sign that your mental and emotional load is outpacing your

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capacity.

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It does not mean that your capacity is too low or that you are too tired.

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Or that you are too weak or deficient in some way.

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It just means that your load right now does not match your capacity right now.

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When we radically accept that this is where we are without judging or condemning ourselves,

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we can say something like, it is what it is.

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My capacity is what it is right now.

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Continue to imagine that that part that wants to burn it all down is still taking a step

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back from you.

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As you notice that part, bring to mind the list of the main stressors on your plate right

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now.

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Go slow and imagine that you and this part are looking at that list together.

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Burn it all down mode can usually fill us with a lot of energy.

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So first, find something on that list that you want to take care of next.

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Taking action is a way to direct all that energy and use it in a way that benefits us

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instead of leaving it raging inside of you.

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Next, find something on the list that you need to let go of for today.

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Maybe it's your plan to cook a full meal for dinner tonight and you opt for takeout

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or a cereal night instead.

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Maybe there's someone that you're upset with, but you can't resolve that conflict today

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and letting it loop through your brain is making it worse.

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Press pause on that loop and set it aside for a day in time that you can productively

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process it.

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Now I want you to shift gears just a little bit.

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When burn it all down mode burns hot in us, we can start to magnify all the tasks and

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hard things in life and minimize the joy and the fun.

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Imagine showing that part that wants to burn it all down, the joys and delights in your

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life today.

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Maybe there are special things, but there are also daily delights that we sometimes

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gloss over when the speed of life gets too fast.

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As you imagine those joys and delights, picture them moving forward toward you.

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The closer an object is, the larger it appears in comparison to what's behind it.

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I hope this exercise has brought you a little bit of peace and maybe even a little bit of

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to what has been otherwise a pretty stressful day.

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Overwhelm is common, but it does not have to rule your life.