You Can Be Grateful and Still Feel Overwhelmed: Both Can Be True

Have you ever felt guilty for feeling overwhelmed because you know you have so much to be thankful for?

You love your family, but sometimes you need a break.

You're thankful for your job, but some days it completely drains you.

You love being a parent, but there are moments when you just want five minutes of quiet.

You appreciate the life you've built, but sometimes the responsibilities that come with it feel heavy.

And then comes that little voice in your head...

"I shouldn't feel this way. I have so much to be grateful for."

But here's something I want you to remember:

Gratitude and overwhelm can exist at the same time.

Being thankful doesn't mean you have to be happy every moment. And struggling doesn't mean you're ungrateful.

Sometimes we get caught up in the idea that if our life is good, we shouldn't have difficult feelings. So instead of acknowledging those feelings, we push them aside, minimize them, or compare our struggles to someone else's.

"Other people have it worse."

"I shouldn't complain."

"I just need to get over it."

But emotions don't disappear simply because we tell ourselves we shouldn't have them.

In fact, when we constantly dismiss what we're feeling, we can make it harder to recognize when we need rest, support, or a change.

Two Things Can Be True at Once

One of the things I often remind clients is that we don't have to choose between two emotions.

You can be strong and still need support.

You can love someone and still need boundaries.

You can be proud of how far you've come and still have difficult days.

You can be doing your best and still feel like you're falling behind.

Acknowledging that something is hard doesn't take away from the good things in your life.

It simply means you're human.

Give Yourself Permission to Feel

So here's my encouragement for you as we head into the weekend.

Instead of asking yourself, "Why am I feeling this way when I have so much to be thankful for?"

Try asking:

"What have I been carrying lately that I haven't given myself permission to acknowledge?"

Maybe you need rest.

Maybe you need to ask for help.

Maybe you need to set a boundary.

Or maybe you just need someone to listen without expecting you to have everything figured out.

Whatever it is, remember that your feelings don't have to compete with your gratitude.

You can appreciate the life you have while recognizing that some parts of it are hard.

And you don't have to feel guilty about either one.

A Little Reminder Before You Go 🤎

You don't have to pretend something isn't heavy just because it's also a blessing.

Give yourself the same grace you so freely give everyone else.

Kacy Mathis

Helping individuals and families navigate life's challenges, one step at a time.