When Life Feels Overwhelming ~ The WABCO Method for Creative Living

As someone in mid-life, I and many of my clients, often find ourselves juggling a multitude of responsibilities—caring for aging parents, perhaps supporting adult children as they leave the nest, navigating health challenges, navigating losses or grief, and maybe contemplating changes in our work or business. Amidst all these demands, it’s no wonder that we can feel overwhelmed.

In these moments, it’s super helpful to have coping strategies that can help us reclaim our creative spirit and navigate life’s complexities. One approach I’ve found particularly effective is the WABCO method, which provides a structured way to tackle the challenges we face while fostering our creativity.

What is the WABCO Method?

WABCO stands for Write, Ask, Break Down, Curb Criticism, and Optimistically Envision. Each step serves as a guiding principle for navigating the overwhelming aspects of life. Let’s explore how this method can support us:

Step 1: Write

The first step in the WABCO method is to write down what you’re facing. When life feels overwhelming, our minds can become cluttered with worries and fears, making it difficult to focus on what’s important to us, including our creativity. By putting our thoughts onto paper, we can gain clarity and release some of that mental weight.

I remember a period a few years ago when I was balancing my responsibilities as a caregiver for my aging mother while also trying to nurture my creative business. It felt impossible. To cope, I dedicated time to journaling about my feelings and fears. I wrote about the pressure I felt to be available for my mother, the guilt of wanting time for myself, and the uncertainty of my future. This act of writing helped me untangle my thoughts and revealed paths I hadn’t considered before. Acknowledging my feelings was the first step toward reclaiming my creative energy.

Step 2: Ask

Next, we need to ask for help. It’s vital to remember that we don’t have to navigate these challenges alone. Seeking support from trusted friends, family, or even professionals can provide valuable insights and assistance.

During another overwhelming time, I found myself feeling isolated as I tried to manage my mother’s care. I reached out to a therapist as well as two close friends. Sharing my struggles allowed me to receive guidance and encouragement. They reminded me it was okay to prioritise my own needs. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Step 3: Break Down

Now that we’ve written down our thoughts and sought support, it’s time to break down the challenges into smaller, more manageable parts. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by everything at once, identifying specific action steps can help us regain a sense of control.

When I decided to launch a new offering in my creative business, the prospect felt daunting. I had so many ideas but didn’t know where to start. To tackle this, I broke down my goals into manageable tasks, such as outlining my project’s plan, creating a content calendar, and setting aside dedicated time for playful experimentation in building out the sales page on my website. By focusing on one small step at a time, the overall vision felt more achievable, and I found joy in the process rather than overwhelm or dread.

Step 4: Curb Criticism

As we navigate our challenges, we must also curb criticism. Our inner critic can be harsh, often amplifying feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. Recognising when these thoughts arise and replacing them with self-compassion is essential, especially when we juggle multiple roles.

I have found, particularly at different times in my life and my menstrual cycle, that my inner critic can get very loud, especially when I compare myself to others who seem to have it all figured out. If I notice myself thinking, “Why can’t you manage everything better?” I remind myself to practice self-compassion. I reminded myself it’s okay to feel overwhelmed, it’s understandable, that others in this situation might also feel the same way, and to focus on soothing myself, perhaps focusing on my inner child who might be feeling particularly unsafe or unsupported. This shift in mindset allows me to approach my life, including my creative projects, with a sense of kindness, rather than self-judgment.

Step 5: Optimistically Envision

The final step is to optimistically envision yourself on the other side of your challenges. This involves imagining what life will look like after you’ve navigated through the difficulties, which can provide motivation and hope.

Visualizing my future has become a powerful tool in my creative journey. After practising the WABCO method, I began to envision a life where I successfully balanced my responsibilities while nurturing my creativity. I imagined myself not just surviving but flourishing—creating art, writing, coaching, mentoring and connecting with others who share my passions. This optimistic vision became a beacon of hope, reminding me that every challenge is temporary and that I possess the strength to overcome it.

The WABCO method offers a structured approach to navigating the complexities of life, especially for those of us in mid-life who are balancing various responsibilities. By writing down our thoughts, asking for support, breaking down our challenges, curbing self-criticism, and envisioning a positive outcome, we can reclaim our creative lives and even flourish amidst what originally felt like chaos.

An Invitation to Practice WABCO Together

If you’re currently facing overwhelming challenges, I want to encourage you: you have the resilience to make it through to the other side. I’m cheering you on! For more support and resources as you navigate your creative journey, consider joining the Creative Hearts Community. Together, we can explore these strategies, share our experiences, and uplift one another.

I also invite you to reflect on your own experiences. How do you handle the overwhelm that comes with life’s challenges? Please share your thoughts in the comments below. And if you found this post valuable, please don’t hesitate to share it with anyone who might benefit. Let’s support one another to navigate our way through this one glorious life, intentionally choosing self-compassion and mindfulness to make it as wonderful as we can, along the way.