From Overwhelmed to Empowered
Let’s talk about overwhelm for a minute. You know the feeling, the never-ending mental checklist, the pressure building behind your eyes, the weight of everything you need to do that’s sitting heavy on your chest. Overwhelm doesn’t ask if you’re ready; it just arrives and takes over.
That was me, not too long ago. For the past four months, I’ve been steadily working through a long list of things I had to get done. Not simple things like folding laundry or sending a birthday card, nope. These were big-girl, grown-up responsibilities that carried weight. Some of them were deeply personal, others logistical, and many involved coordinating with others. It felt like I was juggling flaming torches while tightrope walking across a canyon.
I’d try to power through, only to find myself spinning in circles, stuck in decision fatigue, or paralyzed by how much there was to do. That’s when I realized I needed a new approach, something that would help me move forward while reminding me why I was doing it all in the first place.
Enter, The Heart List. I opened the notes section on my phone and started listing every single task I needed to complete. But instead of bullets or numbers, I put a heart emoji in front of each item. These weren’t just chores, they were acts of care, steps toward building a life that felt more supported, peaceful, and aligned.
Every heart on that list represented something that mattered to me, even if it was hard. Each one was a promise to myself, thinking: “This will make your life better. Keep going.”
And here's the best part, when I completed a task, I didn’t just cross it off. I replaced the heart with a green checkmark emoji. It was heart to checkmark, intention to action and overwhelm to empowerment.
It may sound simple, but the shift was huge. With every checkmark, I could see real, tangible progress. Instead of feeling buried under the weight of what I hadn’t done yet, I started to feel proud of what I had.
One day, my daughter noticed my progress and said, “Mom, I’m so proud of everything you’ve been doing and the big decisions you’ve been making.” And I smiled. Because she saw me. She felt the energy shift. And so did I.
When you’re stuck in the thick of it, it’s easy to forget how far you’ve come. But when you track your progress with love, it’s a gentle nudge that you’re not just surviving, you’re rising.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
Overwhelm thrives in the unknown. Clarity brings calm.
Progress doesn’t always look like giant leaps. Sometimes it’s a single checkmark.
You are allowed to go slow. You are allowed to rest.
Celebrating small wins builds the muscle to keep going.
Your effort matters. You matter.
So I’m still at it, adding new hearts, tackling one thing at a time, then swapping them out for checkmarks. Some days I knock out several. Other days I manage just one. And that’s okay.
Because this list is no longer a weight around my neck. It’s a love letter to my future self. A reminder that I’m doing the work. That I’m showing up. That I’m becoming the woman I want to be, one intentional step at a time.
Here’s your invitation to start your own heart list. Write or type down everything you’ve been carrying: big or small, personal or practical. Put a heart in front of each one, and when it’s done, swap it for a checkmark. Then, feel the shift and let it empower you. One heart at a time, you’ll get there and you’ll be amazed at what’s possible when you lead with love.
I went from overwhelmed to empowered, one heart at a time. Tell me what’s one thing on your heart list this week? Drop it in the comments or share it with a friend who needs this reminder. Let’s cheer each other on.
XO Sheryl
PS … From ❤️ to ✅, I decided to change my green checkmark to a strong muscle 💪🏻. It feels empowering!
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