Updated August, 2024

Do you feel like you’re living life with a mustard stain on your shirt, a sleeve that’s been run through the potato salad and a lap that’s moist with heat and grease after loading up your hot dog with all the fixings?

In other words, are you feeling a little overloaded lately?

Of course you are. It’s our nature to add “just one more thing” to our plates.

Summer is in full swing and the buffet list of fun things to enjoy is still a mile long.

Just like at the family BBQ, there are lots of options to put on our plates. You feel compelled to try the neighbor’s potluck contribution, grandma’s pie and pour cheese all over everything from the crockpot. But what we need to keep in mind is just because it’s on the buffet doesn’t mean we need to load our plates up.

The same thing is true with our overflowing too-much to-do lists and personal summer bucket lists.

And is shows up in the way that we glow.

Rethink Your Plate

This is your reminder to take some things off your plate. To take the moment to pause and really notice what needs to be on it and in what amounts. This metaphorical paper plate serves as a map for your glow and the path to living a life that you love without all of the overflowing mess.

In the Glow Map, I talk about the nine facets of your life and the ways you can use this visual to help you navigate through the messiness of life we all feel with a greater sense of direction and confidence.

Take a moment and decide on a couple things that can stay in the chafing dish for a little bit so you have more attention to give to what needs it right now.

This could include-

• Let go of rigid schedules: Allow yourself more freedom in your daily routine by leaving space for spontaneity and rest.

• Stop worrying about immediate results: Embrace the process and journey rather than stressing about quick outcomes or achievements.

• Ease up on fitting into molds: Let go of trying to conform to societal or cultural expectations about how you should express yourself.

• Set aside overconsumption of information: Give yourself permission to take breaks from constant learning or news intake, and trust what you already know.

• Let go of guilt around not doing enough: Release the pressure to constantly contribute or give back, and trust that your efforts are enough.

This isn’t intended to be a permission slip for procrastination. But it is a one for prioritizing what truly matters, what fills you up and makes life feel juicy and fulfilling. You can always go back for more if there is room.

Need a map to help you navigate knowing exactly what to put on your plate? Download the free Glow Map mini course.

When We Carry Too Much

Carrying too much on our plates can make us feel all the things. In the picnic example, it could feel like-

• Guilt over maybe indulging in too much and nothing really getting the attention or savoring of the moment it deserves

• Anxiety over things are touching that don’t harmonize together (pickle juice in your blueberry pie vibes)

• Even inadequacy over how am I going to even eat all of this when our eyes are bigger than our stomachs

In the plates of our real lives, these feelings could translate into-

• Guilt over feeling pulled to be in two places at once that both fulfill different facets of ourselves and feeling like we have to choose at not really being in the moment

• Anxiety that builds around worrying when you neighbors meet your friends and reveals a whole other side of you

• Inadequacy around feeling like you don’t have enough capacity to handle all that you’re committed to

When our plates feel overloaded, we don’t have the physical, emotional or mental space to make adjustments or pivot. Flow and harmony in our lives means living from our hearts. It requires noticing what’s valuable to have in the mix and how much space it needs at any given time.

When life feels like it has to be super precise in order for balance, there is a lot of stress in finding that exact amount of push/pull.

Harmony thrives when there is space to play, to feel joy and come up with unexpected moments of things working out even better than you even imagined.

Unusual food combinations like-

• french fries in ice cream

• pickles rolled in cream cheese slathered ham

• and apparently American cheese melted on apple pie (okay not gonna try that one)

Using the Glow Map categories for inspiration, some pairings could inspire unexpected harmonies in your own life-

• Embracing a sense of enoughness in yourself and your life while nurturing meaningful connections with others.

  • Result: This can create a more grounded and authentic social life, where relationships are based on mutual respect and appreciation rather than comparison or competition.

• Using your inner knowing to guide how you express yourself creatively or verbally.

  • Result: This can lead to more authentic and impactful communication, where your words and actions are deeply aligned with your true self.

• Contributing your unique gifts to a community where you feel a strong sense of belonging.

  • Result: This fosters a more fulfilling experience of being part of something larger than yourself, where your efforts are both valued and valuable.

Noticing how these separate things can actually work to enhance the things that are on our plates, making even the most overflowing parts of our lives feel fulfilling rather than an embarrassing mess.

It’s Okay to Pause

This week I’m taking my own advice. Stepping away from the buffet line of life.

I’m taking time off from posting and making room on my plate so I can really follow what’s on my heart. Taking some time to really savor what’s there and make space for what I want next.

I have at least 10,000 ideas for Firefly Scout plus family time to enjoy and a day job that needs my attention.

(Edit: 3 years later I took the leap from my day job to pursue the 10,000 ideas in my heart. My plate is fuller than ever, but it’s the most delicious combination of things that I can’t help but heap more of it on my plate.)

And as moms with full plates as well, I hope you will make room on your plate too. Take note of the things that are filling space from the truly good stuff. The things that are messy and spilling over to cause a bigger, unintended mess.

What is something you can set aside for a bit and give yourself more room on your plate?

Stephanie Rose is a mom, wife, business owner and a forever student in finding ways to know herself better. She acts as guide for your own journey, sharing insights, tools and practices to help you remember your magic and live a life that lights you up. Sign up for her newsletter and check out her free resources.