Stressed Out: Finding Peace When Life Feels Like Too Much
Stressed Out: Finding Peace When Life Feels Like Too Much
By Angel, Founder of AMC Rise and Thrive
Hello, beautiful soul
If you’ve been feeling stretched thin lately — like your mind
is racing faster than your heart can keep up — you’re not alone. Sometimes life
piles on in quiet ways until suddenly everything feels heavier than we
remembered it being.
Being an adult is hard. No one prepares you for the constant
motion — bills to pay, meals to cook, responsibilities that never seem to end.
We once thought adulthood would bring freedom, but instead it came with layers
of duty and noise. Not that I’m complaining; there’s beauty in responsibility
and purpose. But the truth? It’s not easy.
There are days when even the smallest tasks — washing another
load of dishes, answering another message, showing up yet again — feel like
climbing uphill with no rest stop in sight. But beneath the exhaustion, there’s
still a flicker of faith reminding us that peace isn’t something we have to
chase. It’s something we return to, one breath at a time.
When It All Feels Like Too Much
Lately, I’ve been carrying more than usual — caring for my
mom, raising my son, keeping the home together, and trying to meet all the
expectations that come with both love and life. With Thanksgiving around the
corner, the to-do list feels endless: cleaning, cooking, organizing, preparing,
and keeping everyone happy. It’s supposed to be a time of gratitude, yet my
spirit has felt stretched thin.
I’ll be honest — I’ve been on edge. It feels like life has
found new ways to test my patience. Small things that normally wouldn’t bother
me suddenly feel like heavy weights. People’s unsolicited opinions hit harder.
Delays irritate me. Even the smallest errands feel like emotional marathons.
And when someone criticizes how I do something, my inner voice says, “You
could do it yourself if it’s such a problem.”
There was a time I’d let that fire spill out unchecked. I used
to be quick with my words — 5'2" of pure energy and a Napoleonic
determination not to be disrespected. Back then, if you pushed me, I was ready
to push back. But with time, I’ve learned the power of pause. I’ve learned that
strength doesn’t always need to shout.
Still, when exhaustion lingers too long, even a calm heart can
tremble. That’s when I remind myself: this moment isn’t here to break me — it’s
here to show me where my soul needs care. Growth looks graceful from the
outside, but inside it often feels like resistance. It’s one thing to know
better; it’s another to feel better.
The Silent Weight We Carry
Stress doesn’t always show itself in loud, obvious ways.
Sometimes it hides in the little cracks — the quick temper, the sleepless
nights, the extra coffee, the quiet tears in the shower.
It’s the mental checklist that never ends. The constant hum of
“what ifs.” The weight of responsibility that becomes so normal we stop
realizing how heavy it is.
What I’ve learned is that burnout doesn’t come from one big
problem. It comes from accumulation — small stressors that pile up until your
nervous system forgets how to rest. You start running on autopilot, numbing
your emotions just to keep moving.
And when someone throws unnecessary energy into the mix —
rudeness, assumptions, demands — it feels like the last straw. Not because of
that single moment, but because of everything that came before it.
Here’s the wisdom that’s slowly finding me: not everything
deserves my reaction. Some things are too small to hold space in my heart, even
when they feel big in the moment.
When I notice my peace slipping, I’ve started using grounding
practices that help me recalibrate:
- The
5-4-3-2-1 grounding method. Pause and name 5 things you
see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, and 1
thing you can taste. It brings your awareness back into the present.
- Journaling
before bed. Release the worries onto paper so your mind
doesn’t carry them into sleep.
- Prayer
walks. Step outside, breathe fresh air, and talk to
God as if He’s walking beside you — because He is.
- Breath
prayer. Inhale: “God is here.” Exhale: “I am safe.”
Repeat until your heartbeat softens.
These aren’t magic fixes, but they create space between the
problem and your reaction — space where peace can return.
Because peace isn’t the absence of noise. It’s the ability to
stay centered within it.
When Rest Becomes a Spiritual Practice
I miss the days when rest came easily — long naps, slow
mornings, no alarms. I didn’t realize that what I had back then wasn’t just
rest, it was restoration.
I used to think rest was a luxury — something you earned after
working hard. But now I see rest as holy. It’s part of our spiritual rhythm.
Just as the earth has seasons of growth and stillness, our souls do too.
When we don’t rest, everything gets distorted. We become
short-tempered, distracted, and distant from God’s whisper. Fatigue is the
soul’s quiet way of saying, “Please, let me breathe.”
Maybe stress isn’t an enemy after all. Maybe it’s a divine
messenger calling us back into balance. When we’re stretched too thin, God
isn’t disappointed — He’s inviting us to slow down, simplify, and surrender.
Here are a few ways I’ve learned to make rest a spiritual act,
not just a physical one:
- Set
sacred boundaries. Protect your peace like you protect
your loved ones. You can’t pour from an empty vessel.
- Practice
Sabbath moments. Even if you can’t take a full day, take an
hour. Light a candle. Put away your phone. Let stillness be your prayer.
- Soak
in gratitude. Instead of counting tasks, count tiny
mercies — the morning sun, your child’s laughter, the warmth of coffee in
your hands.
- Invite
God into your exhaustion. Don’t hide your weariness.
Tell Him about it. Let Him remind you that you’re not meant to carry it
all alone.
Even Jesus withdrew from the crowds to pray, to breathe, to
just be. Sometimes the holiest thing we can say is, “I need a break.”
Grace for the Growing Seasons
If this season feels like too much, take heart. You’re not
failing — you’re evolving.
Stress often signals transition. The more you stretch, the
more resistance you feel. Growth doesn’t bloom in comfort; it blooms in the
cracks where light finally breaks through.
Right now, you’re learning boundaries. You’re learning
discernment. You’re learning that saying no doesn’t make you selfish —
it makes you wise. You’re learning to care for yourself with the same
tenderness you give everyone else.
Here’s the truth I’ve had to sit with: you don’t have to be
everything for everyone. You just have to be faithful in the small things — the
daily grace, the quiet prayers, the steady love.
When you start to feel the edges fray, try these emotional
reset tools:
- Body
scan meditation. Close your eyes and move awareness from head
to toe, relaxing each muscle as you go.
- Gratitude
journaling. Write three things that went right today, no
matter how small.
- Hydrate
and stretch. Sometimes our bodies carry what our hearts
can’t express. Movement releases the tension words can’t.
- Music
therapy. Create a calming playlist filled with songs
that remind you of hope and healing.
And maybe this Thanksgiving, gratitude can mean something new.
Not the picture-perfect table or every dish done just right — but the quiet
appreciation for endurance, for breath, for the grace to still be standing.
You may feel weary, but you’re still here. You’re still
showing up. And that’s holy.
Affirmations
When the world feels heavy, speak these words over your heart:
I am doing my best, and that is
enough.
I release what I cannot control
and rest in divine timing.
My peace is my priority — I
choose calm over chaos.
God strengthens me when I feel
weak or weary.
I give myself permission to rest,
reset, and rise again.
Bible Verse
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.”
— Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
This verse feels like a deep exhale — an invitation to let go.
Rest isn’t something we have to earn; it’s something God freely gives. All we
have to do is receive it. I may have used this verse before but it is one I come
back to quite often.
🎵 Song of
the Day: “Stressed Out” by Twenty One Pilots
This song perfectly captures the longing for simplicity — the
wish to go back to when life felt lighter. The lyrics are raw, honest, and
real. But as time passes, we learn that even the “good old days” had their
challenges; we just see them through softer eyes.
What this song reminds me is that adulthood, with all its
stress and responsibility, isn’t a curse — it’s a call to grow. We can’t go
back, but we can learn to carry our burdens differently. We can still find
rhythm in the chaos, still find peace within pressure.
Maybe today, as you listen, let it be a reminder that you’re
not alone in your stress. We’re all navigating the same human ache — learning
to balance duty with rest, striving with surrender, and motion with meaning.
Closing Reflections
If you’re walking through a weary season, please remember:
you’re not failing. You’re feeling. That’s what humans do.
God hasn’t forgotten you. He’s guiding you through the fog —
gently, patiently, and with love that doesn’t demand performance.
You don’t have to keep holding everything together. Some
things are meant to be handed over, not handled alone.
So, take that nap. Step outside. Cry if you need to. Laugh
when you can. And trust that even when it feels like too much, your story is
still unfolding in grace.
Until next time, may you find calm in your chaos and grace in
your growth.
With love and light,
– Angel 🌿
#StressRelief #FaithInTheStorm #SpiritualGrowth #FindingPeace
#AMCRiseAndThrive
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