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Life is a series of challenges to be managed. In between challenges, life can seem easy, but the next challenge is always on the way. When faced with too many challenges at once, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and to believe that you have more going on in your life than you can handle.

Regardless of the size or the number of challenges you may face, the solution is the same: Ignore those things you can’t influence and spend your time and energy implementing solutions for those things you can influence.

A level head, a solid plan, persistence, and assistance can overcome any challenge life may bring.

Try these strategies to lighten your load:

  1. Acknowledge that you’re feeling overwhelmed. There’s nothing to be gained by ignoring your situation. You’ll be in a better position to deal effectively with your life when you acknowledge the reality of the situation. When you recognize that something is wrong, you can begin to do something about it.

  2. Take a time out. If you’re at work, slip away for a quick walk. If you have the freedom to do so, try taking a weekend trip. A change of scenery can make the challenges in your life seem more manageable.

  3. Make a plan. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s easy to spend too much time focusing on the challenges in your life. While this is a natural response, it leads to feeling even worse! Rather than focusing on your issues, try focusing on solutions.


  1. Imagine your friend was facing the same challenges, what advice would you give to them?

  2. Make a plan to move beyond your current situation. What solutions can you find? How will you implement them?

  3. A simple change of focus can alter your perspective and your mood. Do you think you’ll feel better focusing on your problems or the solution?

  4. Distract yourself for a few hours. Read a good book or take a friend to the movie theater. Now is the perfect time to do all the things you usually do to avoid working!

  5. Talk to someone. You could speak to a coworker, a friend, family member, or a mental health professional. Who would you call on in your life to talk you down off a ledge? Pick up the phone and include someone else in your current situation.

  6. List the good things in your life. Things might be rough at the moment, but there are plenty of things in your life that you can be grateful for. Make a list of them and reflect on the many blessings in your life.

  7. Laugh. Few things feel better than laughing. What makes you laugh? Rent a funny movie or spend time with someone that always finds a way to make you giggle. Who is the funniest person in your life?

  8. Get some help. More heads and pairs of hands can get a lot more accomplished than you can all by your lonesome. Most people are pretty bored and would jump at the chance to help you deal with your drama. Get some help.


You have plenty of options when you think you have more to deal with than you can handle.

Life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. When life becomes especially challenging, feeling overwhelmed can dampen your spirit and hide the best solutions from you.

Admit to yourself that you’re struggling and begin looking for solutions. Allow yourself a few distractions when you need them. Reach out to others and avoid trying to solve everything on your own. Soon, you’ll be back on a more enjoyable path.

If you’re lucky, you’ve already discovered many of your passions and get to spend much of your time enjoying things that bring you excitement and joy. However, maybe you’ve not yet connected with activities, skills, and interests that ignite your passion.

It takes time, soul-searching, and some life experience to identify your true passions. These prompts are written to tap into your wants, needs, desires, and fantasies. Have fun with them and discover what you can add to your life that will fill it with delight.

  1. What’s the one thing I’ve always wanted to do? Consider what would need to happen in order for you to carry through with this long-sought wish. Make a plan and get started.

  2. If I could spend today doing whatever I desire, what would it be? Let your mind go. It could be something related to your work, your home, or simply a lark.

  3. Where do I really want to live? What city and what type of residence? Perhaps you’re already fulfilling this passion and you do live in your true first choice. If not, ponder the possibilities of moving to a place you’ll love.

  4. Where would I like to visit? Perhaps you’re harboring a secret yearning to visit Washington, D.C. or Westminster Abbey in London. The streets of Hong Kong may be calling your name or even the Grand Canyon. Can you make it happen?

  5. What do I talk about doing but never do it? In a conversation, you might state something like, “For the last 10 years, I’ve really wanted to take a cruise to the Caribbean.”

  6. What are the reasons I don’t go after my dreams? Explore within yourself why you haven’t pursued the life you want. Can you do something differently to help bring your dreams to life?

  7. How will I finish the sentence, “More than anything, before I die, I want to ___________?” Say it out loud and fill in the blank. Then, figure out a way to accomplish your wish.

  8. What are the things in my life that I would like to get rid of? If you’re discovering you don’t love everything about your life, maybe it’s time to do some “housecleaning.” Make a list of the ways you’d like your life to change.

  9. Which people in my life inspire me and why? It’s important to know who inspires you so you can spend more time with them. What is it about them that lights you up so much? Decide to take every step to be inspired more often.

  10. If I were to make just one radical change in my life right now to make life better, what would it be? Your answer to this question will really open up your possibilities. Moving to a bigger city might really spice up your life. Getting more education might be a goal—plus you’ll likely make more money.


  1. You’ll be happier if you chase your dreams. Make 1 change.

  2. How do I feel when I put all my effort into accomplishing one of my goals? Notice these feelings. You’ll no doubt want to experience them more often.

  3. How do I feel whenever I achieve a life goal? Awesome, probably.

  4. What’s missing from my life? Answering this question requires considerable soul-searching.

  5. Who are my biggest supporters? It’s wise to know the people that will stand behind you and help you pursue your passions, no matter what.

  6. Who gets in the way of me achieving my goals? In order to find your true passions, you might be required to disengage from those who wish to counteract your efforts.

If you take the time to thoroughly ponder each of these questions, you’ll be pleased with what you discover. Your true passions are inside you, just waiting to be let loose to bring you excitement, joy, and fulfillment.

Entrepreneurship is the way of the future! It may be the answer to the personal success that you’ve been looking for all along. Becoming an entrepreneur is the most effective path to building an empire. And building an empire is a surefire way to achieve your dreams.

If that’s what you want, you have to start somewhere. Becoming an entrepreneur requires a lot of effort on your part. But you’ll be beyond happy when you’re at the end of the road.

If you have limited entrepreneurial know-how, use this checklist to get on the correct path:

  1. Buy into a business idea. Commit wholeheartedly, and for the long haul. This doesn’t necessarily mean putting down financial capital. Make an emotional and educated investment into whatever the business concept may be.

  2. Researching your business idea is crucial to success. Is anybody else doing it? What’s the usual market response to similar ideas?

  3. Identify a target audience. Who wants your product or service? Naturally, you’ll need to be able to identify them. It’s safe to say that a business without a target audience may not do very well!

  4. When you determine your target audience upfront, you can focus on building a marketing plan.

  5. Find ways to start small. It’s exciting to have big ideas for your business. But it’s also wise to start small. Start researching and designing launch plans, financing, and other key elements to get it going, with plans for expanding as profits allow.

  6. Some of today’s biggest businesses started as tiny “hole-in-the-wall” operations. For example, Steve Jobs built computers in his garage. This may be the approach for you since it’s your first entrepreneurship.

  7. Your bank might be offering you impressive financing. But do you really need all that startup capital? Keep your head on and only take what you really need. The less debt you have at the onset, the easier it is to see profits.

  8. Think evolution. The businesses with the greatest success are the ones that constantly reinvent themselves. You’ll need to have that eye of longevity in order to build a good business model.

  9. Your business idea might be for bottled water today. But who says it can’t evolve to other bottled beverages tomorrow? This is the kind of thought to put into your startup business.

  10. Get involved in the process. Getting involved in the process can mean a lot of things, depending on the type of entrepreneurship.

  11. Understand the numbers. The dollars and cents are the main determining factors in how well the business is doing.

  12. Stay on top of every aspect of the startup project. It’s great to have experts on board, but it’s an even better idea to know what they’re doing!

At this point, you’re probably already starting to feel excited! Getting your business idea off the ground is a challenging, but rewarding, experience. Once you stick to this general planning sequence, you’ll likely pull it off successfully.

Nobody dreams bigger dreams for you than you do! Live those dreams out and create the empire you always wanted. It’s yours for the taking.

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