Part 2: Finding Mental Peace in a World of Overwhelm

Holly Loyer
1 day ago
4 min read

If you’ve ever felt like your mind is running a dozen tabs at once—notifications, responsibilities, worries, unfinished conversations, and “what ifs”—you’re not alone. Overwhelm isn’t just a busy schedule; it’s the internal pressure of trying to hold everything together while your thoughts keep spinning.

In Part 1 of this Peace Series, we talked about the power of peace as a gift God gives and a practice we learn. In Part 2, we’re getting practical about mental peace—the kind that steadies you when life is loud, fast, and demanding.

Mental peace doesn’t mean you never feel stress. It means stress doesn’t get to be the boss of your inner world.

Why Our Minds Feel So Overwhelmed

Overwhelm often comes from a few common places:

Too much input (news, social media, constant messages)
Too many decisions (even small ones add up)
Unprocessed emotions (grief, anger, fear, disappointment)
Pressure to perform (perfectionism, people-pleasing, comparison)
Uncertainty (the future feels unclear, so the mind tries to control it)

When your mind senses threat—real or perceived—it tries to protect you by scanning for problems and rehearsing outcomes. That’s why anxious thoughts can feel so persistent: your brain is attempting to keep you safe.

But peace invites you to live from a different place: not from control, but from trust.

A Gentle Reframe: Your Thoughts Are Not Your Authority

One of the most freeing shifts is realizing: a thought can be loud without being true.

Overwhelm often sounds like:

“I’m behind.”
“I can’t handle this.”
“If I don’t do it, it won’t get done.”
“Something bad is going to happen.”
“I’m failing.”

Mental peace begins when you learn to notice thoughts instead of automatically obeying them.

Try this simple practice:

Name the thought: “I’m having the thought that…”
Check it: “Is this true, helpful, and timely?”
Choose your next step: “What is one wise thing I can do right now?”

This isn’t denial. It’s discernment.

5 Practices to Cultivate Mental Peace (Even When Life Is Busy)

1) Create a “Peace Pause” (60 seconds)

When you feel your mind speeding up, pause on purpose.

Put one hand on your chest.
Take 3 slow breaths.
Ask: “What do I need most right now?”

Sometimes the need is water, food, rest, a boundary, or a moment of prayer. A short pause interrupts the spiral and reminds your nervous system: we are safe enough to slow down.

2) Reduce the Noise You Don’t Need

Not everything deserves access to your mind.

Consider choosing one small “quieting” step this week:

Turn off non-essential notifications
Stop checking the news first thing in the morning
Take a social media fast for a day
Create a “no phone” zone (bedroom, table, prayer time)

Peace grows when your mind has room to breathe.

3) Practice “Single-Tasking” as a Spiritual Discipline

Multitasking feels productive, but it often increases mental clutter.

Try this:

Pick one task.
Set a timer for 15 minutes.
Do only that task until the timer ends.

Single-tasking is a way of saying: I don’t have to carry everything at once. I can be present with what’s in front of me.

4) Write It Down to Get It Out

Overwhelm loves to live in the fog. Clarity brings relief.

Do a quick “mind dump”: everything you’re thinking about, everything you’re worried about, everything you need to do.

Then sort it into three categories: Today, This week, Not mine / not now.

You may be surprised how much peace comes from simply seeing your thoughts on paper.

5) Replace Rumination with a “Return Phrase”

When your mind loops, it helps to have a gentle phrase that brings you back.

Choose one:

I can do the next right thing.
I am not alone in this.
Peace is available to me here.
God is with me in this moment.

This isn’t about forcing yourself to feel better. It’s about giving your mind a path back home.

When Overwhelm Is a Signal, Not a Failure

Sometimes overwhelm is your soul’s way of saying: I need support. I need rest. I need to simplify. I need to grieve. I need to set a boundary.

Peace doesn’t shame you for being human. Peace invites you to listen.

If you’ve been carrying too much for too long, consider this your permission slip: you don’t have to do everything today. You don’t have to solve your whole life in one sitting. You can take one breath, one step, one prayer at a time.

A Simple Prayer for Mental Peace

God, my mind feels full and my thoughts feel loud. Teach me how to return to You in the middle of my day. Help me release what I can’t control and receive the peace You offer. Give me wisdom for the next step and rest for my heart. Amen.

Coming Next in the Peace Series

Part 3: When Your Body Is Tired: Cultivating Physical Peace

We’ll talk about rest, rhythms, and how to care for your body without guilt—so peace can be something you feel, not just something you believe.

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Make a move towards balance today!