the morning everything felt too much

A little over a year ago, I had one of those mornings.

You know the kind—the kind where you wake up and everything feels like too much.

My alarm went off, and before my eyes were even fully open, my mind was already spinning.

Deadlines.
Expectations.
A mile-long to-do list.

I grabbed my phone, scrolled through a flood of notifications, and felt this crushing wave of guilt.
“How do people make this look so effortless? Why can’t I keep up?”

I wanted to pull the covers over my head and stay there.

Instead, I got up.

But as I stood in the kitchen waiting for the coffee to brew, I caught my reflection in the window—and what I saw surprised me.

I didn’t see the put-together person I wanted to be. I saw someone who was exhausted.

Something inside me broke in that moment. I realized I’d been running on empty for weeks—maybe months—trying to prove that I could do it all, be it all, fix it all.

But the truth?

I was losing myself in the process.

Instead of diving headfirst into the chaos, I did something I’d never done before. I sat down, coffee in hand, and just… paused.

No phone. No emails. Just silence.

At first, it felt uncomfortable. My brain kept nudging me with reminders of everything I should be doing. But then, I took a deep breath and asked myself a question I didn’t even know I needed to ask:

“What do I need right now?”

The answer wasn’t “check another thing off the to-do list.”
It wasn’t “work harder” or “push through.”

It was something much simpler.
I needed to feel okay again.

That morning, I made a choice.

I chose to let go of the pressure to be perfect.
I chose to prioritize feeling good over looking like I had it all together.
I chose to focus on just one small thing I could do to feel better.

So, I closed my laptop. I made myself breakfast—real breakfast, not just a granola bar on the go. I wrote in my journal for ten minutes and let my thoughts spill onto the page.

And then, instead of jumping into my long list of tasks, I asked myself:
“What’s one thing I can do today that will make me feel proud of myself?”

I didn’t tackle everything that day, but I didn’t need to. I just needed to start.

And for the first time in a long time, I ended the day feeling like me again.

I don’t know where you’re at today.

Maybe you’re feeling great—motivated, excited, ready to take on the world. Or maybe, like me on that morning, you’re feeling like it’s all just… too much.

If it’s the latter, I want you to know this:

You don’t have to do it all. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone.
You just need to take one small step.

Because the truth is, abundance doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from being more present in the little things—the way your coffee smells in the morning, the sound of your favorite song, the smile on someone you love.

Today, I want to ask you the same question I asked myself that morning:
“What do you need right now?”

Maybe it’s five minutes of quiet. Maybe it’s calling someone you miss. Maybe it’s letting yourself rest without guilt.

Whatever it is, give yourself permission to honor it.

And if you feel like sharing, I’d love to hear your answer. Hit reply and let me know—I promise, I’ll read every word.

Here’s to showing up for yourself, even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.

You’ve got this.

XO,
Genta

P.S. If this story resonates with you—if you’ve felt overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of where to start—you’re not alone. Inside The Glow Social Club, we’re creating space to pause, reflect, and rebuild in a way that feels authentic and energizing. Let’s start your transformation together.