GRACE FOR MYSELF: LEARNING TO ALLOW MY HEART TO FEEL

In a life filled with chaos… 

Consistent two way communication…

Worrying about what needs to be done at this every moment...

Writing and gazing at a to do list that seems never ending…

It’s no wonder so many of us feel overwhelmed—and yet we rarely admit it. I’ve always been the type to push through, determined to get things done regardless of how I feel. My logic was simple: if I only moved when I felt like it, nothing would get accomplished.

And in some ways, that mindset served me well. But there’s a dangerous side to it too.

Because if you’re always ignoring your feelings, eventually they catch up with you.

That’s where I’ve been lately—trying to find balance. On one hand, I don’t want my feelings to control me. On the other hand, I don’t want to live life numb, like a robot. Recently, I leaned too far into one extreme: if I didn’t feel like doing something, I simply didn’t. But that only worked for a little while. Before long, things started to pile up again. And then I found myself right back in the cycle of overwhelm I was trying so hard to escape.

And I know I’m not the only one.

As moms, we naturally carry the mental weight of our households—even when we have amazing, supportive husbands. My husband truly leads our home with love: he keeps the house spotless, cares for the cars, and carries so much responsibility. Still, my mind runs with doctors’ appointments, daycare schedules, emotional needs, long-term planning, and the daily logistics of life. It’s like there’s always another tab open in my brain.

That’s why it’s so easy to mask overwhelm—to tell myself “I’m fine” when I’m not. But recently, while sitting in a meeting, it hit me: “Girl, allow yourself to feel.”

That moment of clarity was convicting. Because not only had I denied myself permission to feel, I had also expected the same from others. I used to be impatient with people who seemed “too emotional,” always complaining instead of solving problems. My default mode was solution-driven, not compassion-driven.

But God…

As I grew in my faith and spent more time in His Word, I realized something powerful: the same compassion Jesus shows us is the compassion I am called to extend to others. So, I prayed—really prayed—for God to soften my heart. And He answered. Slowly, I began to understand people differently, to hold space for their feelings instead of dismissing them.

But here’s the part I missed: I never prayed for that same compassion for myself.

I can be quick to offer others grace, yet so slow to offer it to my own heart. That’s where God is working on me right now. I’m learning that it’s okay to pause, to admit when I’m overwhelmed, to feel what I feel instead of burying it under productivity. Because I am not a robot. I’m human.

And so are you.

Here are a few gentle reminders I’m holding onto—and maybe they’ll help you too:

• Give yourself permission to feel—but set healthy boundaries. Cry it out, journal it, pray about it, then release it. Don’t live there forever, but give yourself the gift of honesty.

• Take breaks between major tasks. Everything doesn’t have to be done today. Not everything is urgent.

• Lean on your support system. The people who love you want to be there for you—let them.

• Show yourself compassion. You extend it to others; you deserve it too.

Life is demanding, but it’s also sacred. And part of honoring that sacredness is being real with ourselves. Allow yourself to feel. Grant yourself grace. And remember—you don’t have to carry it all alone.