When Life Gets too Good

“Everything passes. Everything changes.
Just do what you think you should do.” – Bob Dylan

I caught myself being overwhelmed today, which was nice cuz it only took me about 5 minutes to spot it. (It used to be something I would do for weeks on end but I’m getting old and I’m tired).

Stop. Breath. Cope. Assess. Ask for help. (I get to practice what I preach)

Here’s my problem: I have a ridiculous number of really freaking cool things on my plate these days. I have more opportunities than hours in the day. I have collaborations, projects, interns and new employees and more awesome connections than I know what to do with. (Don’t hate me for this. Trust me, my life used to really suck. Today I reap what I sow and my Higher Power is responsible for roughly 99.9% of my success).

(Apparently I really have a thing for parentheses today).

The first time I got overwhelmed by good shit in my life I thought I’d lost my mind. I mean, why should great things freak me out? (Further proof that analysis is pointless).

Well, because they exist outside of my comfort zone, they demand change, and no matter how healthy I get, I still have moments of intense fear that I will forget important stuff, disappoint people who count on me, and otherwise fuck things up in not only unprecedented ways but also to biblical proportions.

Chill. The. Fuck. Out. Regroup. Remember how everything looks way more manageable after a good night’s sleep.

Oh, yeah…sleep.

I’ve been pushing my limits a little more than usual lately. When things get good I want to make more room to let more in. I’m having that deja vu feeling like Wiley Coyote looking at the anvil inches from his head:

Aw, shit. I’ve seen this learning experience before.

Ok. Manage time. Get organized. Delegate stuff. Coordinate. Communicate. You can’t do everything – just do the next right thing. Stop blogging – you need sleep!

My clients sometimes compare their mental health to mine. It’s an invalid comparison of course (their insides to my outsides). I remind them that I’m a work in progress too. It’s not like I’m ever going to forget how to self destruct, or drive myself nuts.

I just only do it for about five minutes at a time.

Jim LaPierre

About Jim LaPierre

Jim LaPierre LCSW CCS is the Executive Director of Higher Ground Services in Brewer, Maine. He is a Recovery Ally, mental health therapist and addictions counselor. He specializes in facilitating recovery (whether from addiction, trauma, depression, anxiety, or past abuse) overcome obstacles, and improve their quality of life. Jim is the cofounder of Sobernow.com an online addiction recovery program that is affordable and provides complete anonymity