It’s all just too much.

Do you ever feel like you’re just going to freak out? Like you might explode or crumple from the stress and weight of it all?

That’s exactly how I felt last Fall.

I was taking a day-time soak while Sola napped and I couldn’t relax. I felt like I was holding way too much in my heart and mind — Too many reins, too many pies, too many strained dreams, too many fears.

And I couldn’t turn it off. I was constantly thinking about all I had to do and worrying about everything and everyone.

I told many friends who asked how I was during this time that I thought I might go cuckoo. They probably thought I was kidding, but how does someone function under that much stress?

Anyways, I was sitting there in the hot water, ready to implode, when I decided I just couldn’t do it any more. I literally cannot handle all this stress for another second!

So, in a moment of utter surrender, I decided to just drop it all.

Like holding the leads to a bunch of wild horses, in my mind I extended my arm, opened my fist that had been clenched so tightly, and just let them all go.

All the responsibilities and worries. The tensions, the planning, the control.

Just for a moment. Just for a little freedom.

I thought “Let them run amock. Let them kick over mailboxes, eat the neighbor’s flowers, and pee in the street.”

Because honestly, how much trouble could those horses cause from here: the tub?!

What was I actually going to accomplish by energetically holding all that crap? This wasn’t a moment of action — this was a moment of rest. I wasn’t going to think or worry my way out of any of it. So what was the point?

I have to tell you, I felt absolute blissful freedom in the moments that followed. I suddenly sank into my body, took a deep breath, felt my shoulders drop and the tension in my chest and stomach release.

I smiled to myself, breathed in the chilly air, and sank into that warm water — finally able to enjoy the beauty around me that I had been blind to before.

I’ve continued to use this trick often over the last few months, whenever I find myself unnecessarily holding stress. It works wonderfully while driving, doing yoga, going for a walk, or anytime you find yourself preoccupied (*cough* obsessing) over things when you should be living your life.

And not so surprisingly, I find taking regular breaks from it all actually enables me to tackle those problems better when it is action time.

So I invite you to try it yourself!

1. Take note of the stress you’re feeling. Imagine each issue or responsibility as an animal. Are they horses? Bears? Cats? Dogs? Chickens? (It’s rather comical to imagine your problems this way)
2. Imagine each animal has a leash tied to it and you’re holding the other ends in your hand.
3. Take a deep breath, hold out your fist, and Let. Them. Go.
4. Notice how you feel. In your body, mind, and perception. Keep breathing.
5. Sit with yourself for a bit and feel gratitude for even a little bit of wiggle room if you found it.

Remember, you can pick up those reins again any time you want. A few seconds, minutes, hours, or days later.

Or heck, maybe never again! Haha (At least for some of them)

I hope you give this trick a go and that it can give you some space in your heart and mind to plant and grow beautiful things.

If you feel up to it — I’d love to know what animal you chose to embody your “problems”! Just comment below :)

Hugs!