When you plate is just too small

We've all experienced those times in our lives when the plate of life is just too small for everything that is placed on it.  It becomes a heaping pile of emotional stress and worry that seems unbearable to manage.  Unlike Christmas dinner, where we know there is an end in reach and the delicious journey to find the empty plate is one we take on with eagerness and enjoyment.  We can even prepare for it by wearing a stretchy pair of yoga pants, not eating for days ahead and promising yourself you will "work it off later" (yeah right).  
But the plate of life isn't always like that.  Sometimes things are heaped on it that are out of our control.  Sometimes the choices we have to make around those piles are less hard, harder or hardest.  These are times when staying mindful and present to the situation that is in front of us are crucial.  Staying focused on the facts of the situation and not putting our own story to it will help ease the burden of emotional stress. Knowing when and what we have control of and letting go of the things we have no control over. Leaning in to the true emotion and allow it to run its course and as one incredible woman once said to me " show the fear there is nothing to fear".
Playing and working with horses has taught me alot about doing just this.  Staying focused on the task at hand, being present and aware of my surroundings, setting clear intentions and following through, and most importantly, not allowing my own story of inadequacies to play a part in the outcome, have helped me through some tough times when my own plate was overflowing with an icky mess of emotional stress.
When a horse encounters a stressful situation, they release by licking, chewing and yawning so stress doesn't deplete their bodies of essential energy.
We humans release through tears and action.
So the next time your plate is overflowing with an icky heaping mess of emotional stress, put on your yoga pants and attack one piece at a time and throw away the pieces that you have no control over.  You will find the plate isn't so unbearable and a good run later will release it.
Now go enjoy some dessert!