“Overwhelm” is Energy Without Direction
- Shandy Welch
- Nov 4
- 2 min read
There are times when I feel paralyzed — so many ideas, projects, and focus areas that I end up doing… nothing. The overwhelm creates a full-body shutdown.
If this happens to you, my friend — you are not alone.
I lovingly say:
“Input overload leads to output failure.”
As my friend Dave Stachowiak reminds me, “Consistency over intensity.” Small, attainable actions done with enjoyment move the needle in ways you’d never expect.
Committing to one small action each day or week will slowly shift momentum.
The Power of Tiny Shifts
Consider this: if an airplane adjusts its flight path just one degree from LA to New York, that tiny deviation — barely noticeable at the moment — will land it in Boston. Hundreds of miles off course.
That’s how change (or drift) happens in leadership and life.
Tiny, daily decisions — good or bad — compound over time leading to big change.
Course corrections matter. Catch a misalignment early and you’ll save yourself from drifting far from your intended vision.
Turn off autopilot. Pause. Find strength. Lead with vision.
Where to Begin
Thoughts → Words → Action → Results.
Find clarity.Take a stance and prioritize one thing. Overthinking keeps us stuck in neutral. Choose something — anything — and move.
Start small.Tackling everything at once is the fastest way to stall.If your goal is to deepen team connection:
Instead of committing to three annual parties and monthly events…
Try hosting three intentional social opportunities over the next year.
Write it down or say it out loud.This makes it real. When you name an intention, your reticular activating system (RAS) lights up — your brain’s internal GPS for what matters.Your brain naturally begins to scan for cues, opportunities, and evidence that support your focus.
Create a reminder or intention. Attach your goal to a consistent cue — this could be a sticky note, an alarm on your phone, or a partner who holds you accountable.
“Each Friday at 9 a.m., I will…”
“Before I leave work each day, I will…”
Momentum builds confidence. Confidence builds energy. Energy builds results.
And before you know it, those tiny shifts have ignited unstoppable momentum — turning intention into transformation.
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