Combat Content Overload with Your Own Internal Wisdom

Have you heard the phrase "content overload"?

Content overload is the feeling of overwhelm and mental fatigue that comes from consuming too much outside information.

In the context of business and personal development, it looks like this:

• Scrolling through an endless sea of social media posts looking for tips, tricks and “must-do” strategies
• Registering for another online courses, programs and workshops without having time to implement what you've already learned
• Devouring every book available to learn as much as you can so you can learn, grow and achieve
• Taking in so many perspectives that you start to second-guess your own judgment and experience

Content overload is a real thing, and I hear it impacting Clients in almost every conversation.

For example:

• One of my Clients was considering a shift to a whole new project management software, based on the strong endorsement and recommendation from a new business contact.
• Another was struggling to make confident decisions in her business, based on opinions she solicited from multiple colleagues.
• And another gets a new idea from every podcast she listens to, yet doesn't know where she'll get the time to act on all the newfound knowledge.

The modern world is overflowing with resources, strategies, frameworks, podcasts, templates, checklists and yes- even blog articles like this one.

At first, absorbing content can be very empowering.

You're learning, growing, and expanding. After all, knowledge is power.

But over time, it can:

• Create decision paralysis: When you’re bombarded with options, it’s hard to choose what’s best for you
• Erode your confidence: You begin to believe others know more than you, even when you're the expert in your own business
• Disconnect you from your own wisdom: You start relying more on external voices than your own experience and instincts
• Trigger unnecessary urgency: You feel like you need to do everything at once to keep up with what others are doing

When you're constantly absorbing new ideas, strategies, and “must-do” tactics from every expert, influencer, coach, consultant and business book out there, it can feel like there are a million things you "should" be doing to succeed.

It’s no wonder so many business owners end up scattered, overwhelmed and second-guessing themselves at every turn.

Too much of that stuff creates a subtle, increasing pressure to be everything, to everyone, at all times.

Real talk...

Content, colleagues and resources can be super valuable, but when it becomes too much, it can disconnect you from your own wisdom, your own experience and your own instincts, leaving you in a place where you take action based on someone else's assumptions about what you "should" be doing in your business.

How do you know when you've reached the point of content overload?

Aware is key, so start by recognizing the fatigue.

Ask yourself:

• "Do I feel drained after consuming this content or having this brainstorming conversation?"
• "Am I delaying action because I'm waiting to learn more or find the right answer from an outside source?"
• "Do I trust someone else's advice more than my own experience?"
• "Do I often invest in or seek out resources that I rarely use or completely forget about?"

If you answered "yes" to 2 or more above, consider the alternative.

The opposite of content overload is listening to your own internal wisdom.

Instead of scrolling, devouring or phoning a friend, take a step back to ask yourself:

• "What do I want and need, right now, and what can I do to make that happen?"
• “What knowledge do I have that can help me make this decision?”
• "What experience can I draw on to help me design effective next steps?"
• "What lessons have I learned that can help me make this decision?"
• "What has worked in the past, that can also work in this scenario?"
• "What life experience can I draw on to help me make this decision?"

This is how to access your own internal wisdom and draw on the wisdom you've gained from years of business ownership, the wins, the losses, the lessons learned.

Once you've taken a step back to access your own internal wisdom, you'll have clarity and you'll feel more confident, more empowered.

From that grounded place, you can make thoughtful, focused decisions that are aligned with your wants, needs, goals and vision.

The more you do this, you begin to realize what's even more powerful than gaining outside knowledge is accessing your own internal wisdom- wisdom grounded in every hard decision, failed experiment, client win, boundary held and lesson learned.

When you tap into your own internal wisdom, you don’t just get more clarity and confidence… you create a sustainable, self-sourced, wellspring of solutions!

What can you do if you're feeling content overload?

Well, that's up to you to decide, isn't it? 

You don’t need more options. You don't need another checklist.

You simply need time, space and the awareness to do things differently- to slow down, step back and access your own internal wisdom.

• Consider what you need.
• Consider what's right, for you.
• Then, design your own action steps.
• Take those steps and see what happens.
• Like the results- keep doing what you're doing.
• Don't like results- design some new actions and try again.
• Take the pressure off and play around with ideas and options and actions.

When you take aligned action based on your own experience and insight, your clarity gets a boost, and so does your confidence, energy and momentum.

Making decisions becomes easier and you find yourself doing more of what matters most, to you (which is where you can find more satisfaction, too).

No one knows what’s best for you and your business better than YOU.

You already have what you need inside you.

Now’s the time to listen, tap in and trust.

P.S. As a Coach, I don't tell my clients what to do, and I won't give advice.

Discuss options- sure. Brainstorm ideas- absolutely.

The real power of a Coaching conversation is asking powerful questions that allow my Clients to access their own internal wisdom and decide what they want, what they need and what they can do to move themselves forward.

Finding peace, quiet, time and space, on your own as a Business Owner can be challenging. That's why many of my Clients hire me as a Coach.

It's designated, scheduled time for them to use however they want and need!

Do you want to engage in a series of powerful Coaching conversations to access your own internal wisdom and move yourself forward?

Start with the 4 Calls to Clarity Program.

Follow the link above to read the program details and find out how to get started.

You're likely to find some confidence along the way, too!