Welcome to our free newsletter, "Yourlifework Guide," offering tips and inspirations to help you find more meaning in your in life and work. Begin within: follow your inner guidance, do less and be more, and live life with more acceptance and peace.

If you like this e-zine, would you pass the good word on? Many people could benefit from some inspiration and gentle nudges. If a friend forwarded this newsletter to you and you like what you read, please subscribe by visiting yourlifework.com.

Table of Contents

1. Journey Back from Overwhelm

2. Unmanaged Stress Kills

3. Returning Home

***All names and circumstances of my clients have been changed to protect their privacy although the content of their story is true.

Recently I caught part of an interview with a man named Caldwell (who owns a very successful financial investment empire) speaking very simply and humbly about his beliefs and beginnings. His words resonated deeply with me as he spoke of his initial struggle finding God and then, as he starting paying attention, to the arresting ways God worked in his life. Call it coincidence, synchronicity or God working in your life – these miracles continue to amaze me.

In a recent workshop I facilitated for people in career change I spoke with one woman at the day’s end. I could see the look of overwhelm on her face. As we spoke she began listing all she had to do today after the program and all she had accomplished yesterday after the workshop. I sensed her pressure as I listened to this non-stop doing and listing.

As I gently queried this bright, enthused woman she began to see she was doing too much. What really had to be done today? After a very full, all-day workshop could she just go home and give herself some down time and trust that she would accomplish what really needed to be done in good time? My parting words to her that night were “Easy does it.”

As she left, I saw the gift she had given me. Hadn’t I just been feeling overwhelmed with new work I had taken on, plus a host of other life decisions all seeming to demand my attention NOW? Yes, I had been aware of my rising stress and had been working on letting go and trusting more. However, the cause of the pressure I was feeling became clearer to me after seeing this woman doing more in one day than necessary. As Jesus admonished us in the Beatitudes “Do not borrow trouble from tomorrow...”

If you are feeling pressured, overwhelmed and stressed – it is time to stop and ask, “What really needs to be done today?” Also, how much time do I need to do this? Some of us need to shake the perfectionist thing and allow what we have done to be enough.

Contrary to my unwarranted fretting, his distress had little to do with my facilitation or the program. This remarkably gifted man lacked confidence in his talents to pursue a dream in landscaping (although others had already hired him after seeing his landscaping genius applied to his own home). Near tears, he also revealed he had nearly died from a chronic debilitating disease he had contacted through suffering extreme stress.

A chill ran down my spine - such an epiphany! It was as though this man was sent to once again remind me of the dangers of eroding oneself with excessive worry, stress and self-doubt (which as humans we all slip into from time to time.) For me again, this man's dire suffering brought home the importance of managing our stress, giving ourselves much needed breaks and being on our own side.

Pressuring ourselves to do more or worrying about what must be done or continually eroding ourselves does not alleviate the underlying feelings of inadequacy and fear.

Rather than pushing ourselves to do more or allowing negative self-talk to erode us can we instead sit a bit with ourselves? This can be a challenge because often it is exactly these scary feelings and thoughts we are trying to escape! Try sitting and breathing and accepting this wholly human condition. Let us give our precious selves some kindness and compassion when these driven, crazy-making moments arise. Breathing… Letting go… Trusting in a perfect timing… Returning to our true home.

As we sit with ourselves we need to do so without expectations. We don’t have to get it right or achieve some special state. We simply practice kindness toward ourselves and acknowledge our uncomfortable/painful feelings. Herein, old habits begin to dissolve of their own accord. Also, from this place we can more clearly make decision about what our true priorities are and put first things first.

In an interview with Mahatma Ghandi, Ghandi said he meditated two hours each day. The interviewer asked, “What do you do when you are too busy to meditate?” Gandhi replied, “Mediate four hours a day.” Clearly, taking the time to sit with ourselves is a priority especially when we are far too busy or distressed to do so!

I would love to hear from you!

Please email me feedback, thoughts, concerns, insights you have about this e-zine, our site or your lifework journey to Teresa.

I would like to help you on your lifework journey!

If you would like ongoing, personalized lifework guidance with me, Teresa click here and we can start now. Send me a lifework concerns you have and I will write back to you with a few thoughts and suggestions – at no cost to you for the first e-mail session. This way you can get a better feel for who I am and what I have to offer you. From here you can decide if you would like further guidance from me or not – with no obligation.

If you would like more information about Teresa, click here.

Reminders Remember to click refresh as you revisit yourlifework.com as I am always editing, re-writing and adding.

Remember: Be gentle with yourself. Listen to your guidance. Navigate through life and work with more peace and acceptance.

So, my friend, thank your for your time. I hope you enjoyed this e-zine and found it useful. I look forward to hearing from you. So, until next month’s issue…

Warmest regards,

Teresa