In this hyper-connected information age people often point to the massive availability of content/information via the media (e.g., internet, TV, radio, etc.) as a key source of stress and overwhelm. But think about it, have you ever been in a situation where there was lots of information available (there ALWAYS is) but you did not experience stress or overload? What was it about that situation that made it different?

If you knew the answer to that question you could use it to drastically reduce your stress level. Let me offer you a possible answer.

What if the real source of the problem is not the amount of information available in any given situation – but a lack of self esteem? When you feel confident about what you know and what you are capable of doing there is usually no overload - even in the face of massive information - because you are comfortable in your ability to filter and focus, make decisions, take action, and deal with the consequences of your decisions and actions. On the other hand, it is easy to see how a lack of self esteem can push you into overload as it causes you to endlessly seek more and more input or impedes your ability to feel comfortable filtering and disregarding information, focusing on just what is important from your own perspective (which you don’t value), or taking action. For example, overwhelm is just around the corner if you:

• Believe that everyone else is an “expert” that knows more than you do. You say to yourself, “I don’t know enough; others are smarter than me.”


• Are continuously searching for the “perfect” solution or that magic bullet.


• Are driven by a fear of missing critical information; you continually search for more information (reading every email, etc.) because you fear that the one you miss could be critical or lead you to a life-changing experience.


• Continuously seek more information as an excuse to keep from having to take action; you are dogged by the feeling of “I am not ready – I don’t know enough yet.”

Low self esteem leads to fear and insecurity (e.g., “I don’t know enough, others are smarter than me, I will fail”) and these negative emotions can affect your activities and choices. Lack of self esteem leads to information deficit anxiety – which causes you seek more and more information - especially from sources that you think are “experts.” The result - you end up not only stressed out and overwhelmed but also paralyzed.