Baby Steps - Walk Before You Run

Overcoming Overwhelm with Small, Intentional Steps

Welcome, friends! Today, we're diving into a topic that many of us struggle with: overwhelm. It’s a great place to start because, let’s be honest, who hasn’t felt completely bogged down by the sheer weight of responsibilities, expectations, and life itself?

This blog, Learning to Walk Before You Can Run, is all about understanding that success doesn’t come all at once. It comes in layers, built one small step at a time. We want to feel accomplished, but we often expect ourselves to know exactly how to do something before we’ve even taken the first step. It’s like expecting to understand sixth-grade math when we’re just entering kindergarten. Unrealistic expectations set us up for failure before we even begin.

The Overwhelming Mess - Where Do You Start?

I was visiting my grandkids in Idaho, and their room was a complete disaster. Naturally, they were overwhelmed when they were asked to clean it up. They picked up one item and then stood there, paralyzed by the mess. Sound familiar?

I decided to turn it into a game: I Spy. I would call out an item, and they would hunt for it. I spied a red shoe—one found it, and the other found the matching one. Then I said, I spy all the little green Legos.

This process turned a frustrating, overwhelming task into something fun. Before they knew it, their room was spotless, and they were excited about what to do next. That’s the key—breaking things down into manageable steps.

Overwhelm doesn’t just hit kids. As adults, we experience the same thing. Think about the moment you became a parent. Suddenly, you were responsible for a tiny human being. No one handed you a manual. You figured it out as you went. And that’s exactly how life works—we learn by doing, not by knowing everything ahead of time.

The Natural Progression of Growth

Let’s take a lesson from babies. They aren’t worried about learning to walk, yet they go through a process:

• First, they learn to grip and suck.
• Then, they begin to smile, roll over, and push up on their hands and knees.
• They start crawling, pulling up on furniture, standing, balancing, and then taking those first wobbly steps.
• Eventually, they run.

Each step is necessary. Each failure, each fall, is a learning experience. And never once does a baby compare itself to another baby who started walking earlier. They simply focus on their own journey.

So why do we, as adults, constantly compare ourselves and feel like we should be further along than we are?

Overcoming Overwhelm: Practical Steps

1. Reduce Expectations and Increase Time
   
   One of the biggest causes of overwhelm is expecting too much in too little time. I used to dread grocery shopping with my five kids. I wanted to be in and out in 30 minutes, but that was completely unrealistic. Instead, I decided to allow two hours.
   
   That extra time meant we could take our time, buckle seat belts without stress, talk and laugh on the way, and involve the kids in helping unload groceries at home. My stress level dropped by 100%.
   
   
2. Recognize the Source of Overwhelm
   
   Overwhelm comes from trying to know everything in advance. If you find yourself procrastinating, avoiding, or checking out, ask yourself:
   
   

• Am I expecting myself to know something before I’ve learned it?
• Am I trying to do too much at once?
• Am I comparing myself to someone further along?

    3. Take Baby Steps

              Stop thinking about everything at once. If you’re facing a big task, ask yourself:

• What is the first small step I can take?
• What’s one thing I can do today?

    4. Just like babies don’t go from rolling over to running overnight, neither do we.          Give yourself grace and allow for a natural progression.

      5. Put ControlZilla Down for a Nap

              ControlZilla is that voice in your head telling you:

• You’re not doing enough.
• You should be further along.
• You’re falling behind.

     6. She’s not helping. When you feel overwhelmed, pause and remind yourself:

• I am doing the best I can.
• I will learn what I need to learn at the right time.
• One step at a time is enough.
• 
  

Conclusion: Give Yourself a Break

Remember, you’ve already overcome so much. Anything that used to be a problem is no longer a problem because you figured it out. Whatever is causing you stress right now? You’ll figure that out, too.

So take a deep breath. Take a break. Grab a snack. Give yourself grace.

Baby steps will get you there. And before you know it, you’ll be running.

Note: You can access the full blog content in audio versions on  Spotify and  YouTube.  Happy listening! 🎧 

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