Living the Dream (and Losing Your Mind): The Blessing Paradox
There’s a certain irony in getting everything you ever prayed for — only to feel like you might lose your mind trying to keep up with it.
That’s the heart of what Jaclyn Steele Thurmond and her husband, Sam, explored in this episode of The Freq Show. It wasn’t a conversation about perfection, or about keeping it all together with ease. It was about the messy, beautiful, and often exhausting reality of living in the middle of your answered prayers.
Because here’s the truth: blessings rarely arrive in calm, tidy packages. They often come wrapped in chaos, in long to-do lists, in early-morning phone calls and unexpected garage door mishaps. And sometimes, it’s in those messy moments that the reminder hits hardest — you asked for this. And it’s still so, so good.
Living the Dream (and Losing Your Mind)
The Morning That Started It All
On the morning that inspired this conversation, things started out bumpy. Roman, their three-year-old, was in a mood. Breakfast didn’t go smoothly.
Sam had gotten up early to work out, ready to “hit the ground running” for a productive day, but within minutes, the phone was buzzing nonstop — tenants, commercial partners, contractors, draftsmen. Meanwhile, Jaclyn, eight months pregnant, was navigating messages from her design clients and keeping her own projects moving.
By 9:15 a.m., the day felt stacked against them. And then, in the rush to get Roman to school, Sam backed out of the garage before the door had finished opening.
A loud scrape. A dent in the car. A few deep breaths. And one of those moments where your inner critic wants to have a field day.
Choosing Grace Over Guilt
Jaclyn could have met the moment with frustration — especially after a stretch of expensive car repairs and just-finished garage work. But she didn’t.
Instead, she saw how upset Sam already was with himself and offered him what he couldn’t quite offer himself yet: grace.
“You were beating yourself up enough for the both of us,” she told him later.
And here’s the thing — that choice changed the tone of the day. It softened the sharp edges. It made space for the lesson that was waiting underneath.
The Blessing Paradox
Later that morning, over coffee, Sam had a realization: every single thing that had made the day feel overwhelming was tied to something they had once prayed for.
A thriving business.
Commercial opportunities.
Design clients Jaclyn loved serving.
A growing family.
A home full of life (and toddler energy).
The chaos wasn’t coming from problems they didn’t want — it was the natural byproduct of the life they had intentionally built.
“When you want the thing,” Sam reflected, “all you’re focused on is getting the thing. But you don’t really think about all the stuff that comes along with the thing — the logistics, the tasks, the time, the energy. And yet… all of it is still a blessing.”
That’s the paradox. The very dreams we chase will stretch us. The same things that light us up can also wear us out. And it doesn’t mean they’re any less of a gift.
Holding Boundaries Around the Beautiful
One of Jaclyn’s biggest takeaways from this season has been the importance of boundaries — not as walls, but as gentle fences that help you enjoy what you’ve built without burning out from it.
Her mornings, for example, are intentionally slow: coffee, prayer, affirmations, breakfast with Roman, and their much-loved “cuddle puddle.” Work comes after that sacred window of connection.
Evenings are for dinner, family time, and rest. “I want to be present with you, and I want to be present with Roman,” she told Sam. And while she admits she doesn’t always get it right, the intention itself helps keep her anchored.
How to Protect Your Blessings With Boundaries
Start and end your day with connection. Even ten minutes of unhurried time with a loved one can anchor you before the rush begins.
Create “no work” windows. Block off time in your calendar when work is off-limits so you can be fully present in your personal life.
Honor your rituals. Whether it’s prayer, coffee, journaling, or a morning walk — treat these like essential appointments with your soul.
Back to the Basics
When overwhelm creeps in, Jaclyn has learned to check the simple things first. These aren’t glamorous, but they are powerful.
The Big Three Reset Questions
Am I sleeping enough? Fatigue magnifies stress and makes blessings feel like burdens.
Am I moving my body? Even light movement shifts energy and mood.
Am I nourishing myself well? Foods carry energy — high-vibrational foods help you feel clearer and lighter.
She believes high-vibrational foods create high-vibrational energy. And when the basics are in place, it’s easier to carry even the heaviest blessings with a lighter spirit.
The Reset Power of Gratitude
One of the fastest ways Jaclyn shifts her energy is through gratitude — something she was reminded of while reading Unshakeable by Tony Robbins.
“The easiest way to go from a state of suffering to a beautiful state is through gratitude,” she shared. Even something as simple as I’m grateful for my bed. I’m grateful for this roof. I’m grateful for the food in my fridge can start to change the entire atmosphere of a day.
It’s not about ignoring the hard parts. It’s about remembering that blessings don’t stop being blessings just because they’re demanding.
Redefining Wealth
A recent lunch with her friend Jonelle offered another perspective shift. When Jaclyn shared her desire to build more financial freedom, Jonelle smiled and said, “You’re already wealthy — in health, in family, in home.”
It was a moment that stopped her. Because wealth isn’t just what’s in the bank — it’s the quality of your days, the health of your relationships, the peace in your mind.
A Litmus Test for Overwhelm
Sam shared a simple way to reframe stress: look at what’s making you busy. If most of it is tied to things you deeply wanted, you’re doing okay.
That doesn’t mean you won’t feel stretched thin. But it does mean your energy is going toward something worth having.
As Jaclyn put it: “I have so many projects going on right now, and yes, I feel pulled in different directions. But the reality is — these are all projects I want to do. That’s a blessing.”
Journal Prompts
What’s overwhelming me right now?
Which of these things are blessings I once prayed for?
How can I set better boundaries so I can enjoy them fully?
Final Reflection: Finding the Blessing in the Busy
The next time life feels chaotic, pause.
Look closer.
Ask yourself if what’s weighing on you is also what you once wished for.
Sometimes the answer will be yes. And when it is, you’ll have the chance to shift your perspective — from I’m drowning in to-dos to I’m living inside my answered prayers.
As Sam reminded himself that morning: “All the things that were causing me stress today are the very things I would hate to not have in my life right now.”
That’s the blessing paradox. You can be tired and grateful. Overwhelmed and overjoyed. Stretched and satisfied — all at once.
Live on purpose. Live on frequency.
Ien Araneta - editor of The Freq Show & The Beckon Times
