Helping Parents Get from Overwhelmed to Less-Stressed

Did anyone else out there binge watch Brene Brown’s Atlas of the Heart on HBOMax? One thing that really struck me was her description of stress and overwhelm. Brene describes overwhelm as “an extreme level of stress and emotional and or cognitive intensity to the point of feeling unable to function.” 

The reason this resonated me is that I hear some version of this from clients during our first meeting all. the. time.
“I feel stuck.”
“I should have done this ages ago.”
“When I think about this, I just can’t manage.”

It makes me wonder how many folks are out there who have real legal issues that need to be addressed - child support going unpaid, no will or emergency planning, marriages that just aren’t working, etc. - but are feeling too overwhelmed to even make that initial appointment.

The really helpful thing that Brene shares in Atlas of the Heart is that while we often describe ourselves as overwhelmed, what we are actually feeling is more often than not a high level of stress. The difference is that in a state of stress, unlike overwhelm, we can continue to function. Especially with support. 

All of this has me thinking - I know these people are out there and I know I have the skills and knowledge to be that supportive helper, so…

I need to do a better job of showing up. 

There’s no reason to make people take the (oftentimes difficult) step of making an appointment to see a lawyer in order to start benefiting from what we have to offer. This is why I am starting a new campaign of free tools and resources.

The first thing I am offering is a FREE WORKBOOK for parents to begin exploring emergency and legacy planning for their minor children. Check it out!

There are more workbooks on the way, and even some webinars and videos addressing some of the most common questions and issues I see. Friends, you know I am serious about showing up if I am willing to put myself on a video on the internet because, I have to admit the thought of doing so sends me into a state of stress! But if it makes it easier for someone out there to access the support they need to lower their stress level, I’m game.