#2 - I Should Be Able to Do It All
Burnout, Overwhelm AND Why We Feel Like We’re Always Behind
What You'll Find in This Module:
A recording of the teaching portion (no group sharing included)
A written breakdown of the session so you can revisit the key pieces
Journal + art prompts to explore in your own time, at your own pace
The Goal of This Session
This module is about rewriting the story from "I'm failing" to "This is too much, and it's okay to change how I carry it."
The Mother Load: Why We Feel Like We're Always Behind
Let's talk about mental load - the invisible, never-ending to-do list that lives in your head rent-free, 24/7, even when you're trying to sleep.
You know the one:
Remembering it's "pajama day" at school.
Scheduling doctor appointments (for everyone but yourself).
Making sure the baby doesn't outgrow their clothes before you remember to buy the next size up.
Buying a birthday gift for your child's friend - and remembering where you hid it.
It's a full-time job with zero pay, zero vacation days, and zero recognition - and yet, here you are, the unpaid project manager of your household.
Why We Feel Like We're Failing
Here's the truth: You're not failing. You're overloaded.
Studies show that:
93% of mothers report feeling burned out.
Women still carry 70% of the household's mental load, even in "equal" partnerships.
Burnout makes your brain literally less capable of planning and decision-making - which means the more overwhelmed you feel, the harder it is to keep up.
And yet, we internalize this societal failure as a personal failure.
❌ "If I could just get more organized, I wouldn't feel so behind."
❌ "I should be able to handle this - I'm just lazy."
❌ "Other moms seem to manage it all. What's wrong with me?"
These thoughts? Classic cognitive distortions:
Personalization ("It's all my fault")
Should Statements ("I should be able to handle this")
Mental Filter ("I only see what I'm NOT doing")
But here's what's actually true: The system is broken, not you.
Nothing. Nothing is wrong with you.
But the way you've been conditioned to carry it all, silently and without question? That's the problem.
🧠 5 Brain Dump Sentence Stems
The part of my motherhood that feels the heaviest right now is…
I believe I “should” be able to do everything because…
One thing I wish I could let go of is…
When I feel overwhelmed, I tell myself…
If I gave myself more grace…
🧘♀️ Meditation: “Setting Down the Backpack”
Close your eyes. Breathe deeply. Imagine you’re walking along a quiet path in nature - maybe in the woods, maybe by water. You’re carrying a heavy backpack.
It’s full. It’s heavy. It’s exhausting.
You’ve been carrying it for so long, you almost forgot what it feels like to not.
As you walk, sunlight filters through the trees. The air is cool. Still. You hear the hush of the leaves, the soft rhythm of your own footsteps.
And somewhere deep in your body, you realize: You don’t have to carry all of it. Not right now.
You step to the side of the path and slowly take off the backpack.
You feel the weight leave your shoulders.
You unzip it. You start taking things out - gently, curiously, without judgment:
Old stories you inherited
The never-ending to-do list
The emotional labor you silently perform
The guilt of never doing “enough”
You don’t walk away from it completely - because yes, you do have responsibilities.
But in this moment, in this breath, you are allowed to rest.
Let your breath move gently through you.
Breathe in: the lightness of being unburdened.
Breathe out: the pressure to hold it all together.
Stay here as long as you need. And when you’re ready - slowly, lovingly - open your eyes.
Art & Written Journal Prompts
🎨 Art Prompt: “The Things I Carry”
Draw a visual metaphor for your motherhood.
Maybe it’s a backpack.
Maybe it’s a scroll of never-ending to-dos unraveling off the edge of the page.
Maybe it’s a tangled web of expectations, stuck to everything.
Around it, add the words you carry:
The hard parts. The sweet parts.
The anxious spirals. The tender moments.
The pressure. The presence.
The emotional weight. The tiny joys.
Now, on a separate part of the page: Draw something to symbolize acceptance.
A stone. A leaf floating downstream. A hand open, not gripping.
Take a deep breath. What can you honor today—without changing it, fixing it, or apologizing for it?
✍️ Written Prompt (Option 1): “The Things I Carry”
Make two lists:
Everything that’s been on your mind in the past 4–7 days.
Everything you’ve done just for yourself in that same time.
Now pause.
What do you notice about the imbalance?
What comes up in your body or emotions as you sit with that difference?
Where is resentment starting to bloom?
Where is permission asking to be planted?
✍️ Written Prompt (Option 2): “If I Had Permission to Rest…”
Complete this sentence: “If I gave myself permission to let what’s heavy be heavy, and what’s light be light, I would…”
Let it unravel. Write about what your day - or your week, or your life - would look like if rest felt safe, sacred, and guilt-free.
Describe it in detail. Taste it. Touch it. Let your nervous system imagine what’s possible.
🔍 Reflection Questions
What are you most curious about or most interested in?
What part of the process was most difficult, emotional, or fun for you?
Is there a feeling that goes with or stands out for you in this? If yes, describe.
What message do you want to take forward from this session?
💡 Key Takeaway for This Module:
You are not failing - you are doing too much. And you are allowed to do less.
🔥 Want to keep going? This week, notice when you’re telling yourself you “should” be able to do it all. Pause. Ask: “Would I expect this from my best friend?” If not, give yourself the same grace.
