You are freelance and work on commission, and you're swimming in projects. You cannot remember the names or projects of some of your clients. You've got a relationship that needs attention to thrive, children that need your parenting and guidance, a house accumulating dishes and laundry, and a car making a funny noise you can't even begin to diagnose. Vacation is far off on the horizon but you're paddling swiftly toward it through the waves. Just then, you see a shark fin (or maybe just a dolphin?) and you realize... this is ridiculous. All the same, you have no choice but to continue forward. Welcome to the overload.

It helps to repeat to ourselves during our most infuriating entrepreneurial times that we asked for this. Let's rewind.

Once upon a time, you were not so successful. You had a dream, something you'd held for years, that you knew would come eventually. And when it did, you'd work yourself to the bone to make sure that it was sustainable. Plans were made as your dream was sculpted from thin air, although none of your plans could foresee these moments when you feel altogether unprepared after all.

As with all challenges, though, a change of perception is what we need to turn these rough waters into calm seas. It is the mindset of understanding that we are thick in the process of learning. We are learning what it takes to navigate rough waters, and we should be thankful that we happened upon a storm and not a hurricane.

Any seasoned sailor will tell you (let's just run with this metaphor) that stormy weather and panic have disastrous results. What turmoil and difficult success call for is a clear head, organization and strong sense of resolve. The plans we laid early on are being put to the test, and now is the time to make those plans more detailed because we see that they have nuance.

Challenge turns to learning, learning to diligence, diligence to understanding, and understanding to the expansion of our minds. Thus the correct response to any challenge is an anticipation of greater insight.

What this translates to in our business and personal lives is that struggle and challenges are not failures, they are tests that we put into motion ourselves many years ago. When we start a business we must anticipate greater insight. When we marry, buy a home, or have children, we must anticipate greater insight. And in this way, on this path, we are never surprised.

This is the way to Zen, the way to walk on water, and to find calm within the storm. We accept that it is all our own doing. The clouds, the rain, the waves, and even the ship itself is our own mind, and the overload is the promise of wisdom.