Thoughts to Build On

Chapter 77

Are You Overwhelmed?

One of the greatest disasters of life is to be
overwhelmed by it.

The depressing feeling that you are overbur-
dened beyond your capacity to cope with life's problems
and responsibilities is one of the most painful of all emo-
tions. Unlike many. painful emotions which come as sudden
shocks and are soon over, the depression of being over-
whelmed is one that endures, and feeds on itself to grow
into an increasingly greater burden.

When life's burdens completely overwhelm
the victim, the result is insanity in one of its most tragic
forms. Or often suicide.

Why should this be, this permitting ourselves

to be overwhelmed? Life does not impose on anyone

burdens beyond his capacitity to bear. Whatever our

burdens, we are given the strength to bear them. But like

the frenzied swimmer in water he does not realize is shal-