Photo: infomatique

You know the expression “a problem shared is a problem halved”? But what happens if life keeps throwing problems at you?

For instance, if you’re:

• trying to start a business,
• dealing with the kids school issues,
• trying to support a family on one income,
• dealing with a death in the family

who has the time,  energy and brain power left to even think about sharing.

Let’s be honest sometimes things just become overwhelming and when they do it feels like your world is falling apart.  It’s hard not to feel alone and sad or see a future that’s any different to the world you’re living in right now. No promise of relief, fun or happiness.

So what’s the best thing you can do in the form of self-help?

Find someone to talk to, someone you trust, someone who’ll listen.  There’s no shame in sharing your feelings.  It’s not easy to admit that you can’t cope with everything happening around you, but, “2 heads are better than one” when problems begin to overwhelm.  Another person can bring a different perspective to the problem or situation at hand and may be able to see a possible solution, or at least may say something that makes everything suddenly become clear.

When we bottle things up inside we become so blinded by the enormity of the situation, our minds go in circles never seeing a way out.  But one word from someone and a door opens up and we see a way forward.

The feeling of relief that comes over you at that moment can bring you to tears, but tears of relief feel so much better that tears of frustration and overwhelm.

For me, as I’m sure it is for anyone who has listened and helped another, the joy of seeing that light back in a friend’s or client’s eye is worth more than gold.  Cliched as it may be, life is so much easier and more fun when we share our ups and downs with another person. There really is no better feeling than the one that occurs when you’ve been able to help.

Think of a past time when you needed some help and you confided in a parent, or a friend.  Think of the relief you felt when you knew someone else was out there cheering for you, you weren’t alone.  You can have that feeling again.  No it won’t make the problem go away, but it will help you decide what to do about it.