It's not the load that breaks you down.
It's the way you carry it.
Lou Holtz Take a moment to let this quote sink in.
Close your eyes if you feel comfortable to do so.
And let your breath steady into a slow rhythm.
Imagine the words settling gently into your mind and heart.
Welcome to this series of meditation tracks.
In this series of tracks and the accompanying course,
I aim to talk about stress in a different way and create a space for insight and reflection for you so that you can see stress in a different light.
In today's track,
I invite you to consider what does this quote mean to you.
It's not the load that breaks you down.
It's the way you carry it.
Reflect on it for a moment.
Allow your thoughts to flow freely without judgement.
How does this resonate with your current situation or experiences?
Now,
Ask yourself,
How do I feel when I think about this quote?
Does it bring a sense of relief,
Recognition,
Or even perhaps resistance?
Notice any emotions that arise without trying to change them.
Just observe and acknowledge your feelings.
Where in your life is this quote true?
Think about the different aspects of your life,
Your work,
Relationships,
Personal goals,
And daily challenges.
Can you identify situations where the way you carry your burdens affects your well-being more than the burdens themselves?
Reflect on these instances and allow yourself to see them with clarity and no blame and no judgement.
Now consider what resistance you might have to this idea.
Are there any thoughts or beliefs that make it difficult to accept?
Maybe there's a part of you that feels it's not just about how you carry the load,
But the load itself.
Allow yourself to explore this resistance and understand where it comes from.
If it pleases you to do so,
Take some time to journal about your reflections.
Writing can be a powerful tool to clear your mind.
Take up your journal and let your pen flow with whatever comes to mind.
I'll give you some time to do this now.
Or simply relax and listen to the music for a short while.
If you need more time,
Press pause on the app and come back when you're ready.
If you're ready,
I'd love to share a personal story to illustrate this quote in a real-world context for me.
A few years ago,
I was juggling multiple projects at work,
Along with the usual family responsibilities and personal goals.
I felt completely overwhelmed and stressed.
Just thinking about the sheer amount of tasks was breaking me down.
One day,
A mentor pointed out that it wasn't the tasks themselves,
But how I was carrying them.
Now,
There are many different approaches to helping us with a large task load,
Which are all useful.
But what I really saw,
It was how I was thinking about the workload that was dragging me down,
And not the workload itself.
I realised that when I was in a low state of mind,
I would ruminate about all the things I had to do.
I would go around in circles,
I would feel like there were no solutions,
And I'd feel overwhelmed.
But there were times when my head was lighter,
When I felt calmer and I had more perspective.
I saw that I could prioritise or ask for help or do some of the useful things that occurred to me.
The task load itself didn't change,
But my mindset towards it did.
From this clearer perspective,
I felt more confident and able.
I could hear my intuition guide me.
I knew what needed to be done and what could be delegated.
Reflect on this story and think about your own experiences.
Does this perspective change how you see the quotes?
Perhaps you can see new ways to carry your load more effectively.
Or maybe it reinforces a realisation you've already had.
Take a moment to wonder about this.
If you've enjoyed this meditation and want to go deeper,
And explore more ways to manage your stress from the inside out,
And find calm amidst the chaos,
I invite you to take a look at my profile and find the playlist Stress Relief.
There are more tracks for you to enjoy and a course from stress to calm for busy people.
The course is designed to provide practical tools and insights to help you navigate your busy life with more ease and grace.
Thank you for joining me on this meditation.
Remember it's not the load that breaks you down,
But the way you carry it.
And may you carry your load with strength,
Wisdom and compassion that you already have within you.
Lots of love.
