Episode 19 : Feeling Overwhelmed? Try this.
TL:DR - You need time and space away from inputs to recalibrate yourself and defuse chronic overwhelm.
In our modern lives, overwhelm is so widespread, its very nearly considered ‘normal’. Of course, common is not the same as normal.
We need ways to manage our overwhelm, yes, but ideally to prevent it. Just like brushing your teeth every day, there’s a daily habit that can help to manage feelings of overwhelm while they’re still manageable, rather than waiting until a proverbial mouth full of fillings is needed. In other words, deal with and prevent stress and overwhelm to minimize risk of burnout down the line.
Here’s how.
Emptying out.
If you look at a Human Design chart, you’ll see some centers are colored in, others are white. Those centers that are white are the ones where the world around us gets in. Where we’ve the most to learn. Where we amplify what’s going on in the world around us and reflect it back out. Where we ‘fill up’ with information from the world, all the things that we’re not.
This is what needs regular emptying. Empty of who the world tells you you should be, you’re better able to be what you actually are.
In this chart, for example, the crown, ajna, and throat centers are undefined. These are circled and highlighted with arrows.
Meanwhile, the G-center, ego, spleen, sacral, solar plexus and root are all defined.
Where you have definition, you’re you. There’s nothing to reach for, nothing to be that you’re already not.
Where there’s openness, or no definition, however, the voices of the world get in. In the context of overwhelm, this looks different depending on the center that is undefined. Here’s what each center becomes most easily overwhelmed by:
Crown — the need to know; mental pressure
Ajna — ideas, the need to figure things out
Throat — the need to share, the need for attention, to be seen and heard
G-Center — feeling lost, feeling like you don’t know who you are
Heart/Ego — jealousy, ‘shoulds’, overly elevating discipline
Spleen — fear and insecurity
Sacral — the pressure to do, to always keep going, to be productive at all costs
Solar Plexus — avoiding upset and confrontation
Root — straight stress, the pressure to do in order to be valid and needed
The body needs to process information
Inasmuch as our minds are incredible tools and do a ton of information processing, the body processes information too, and needs time and space to be able to do so.
You’ve experienced this if you’ve ever had an experience and thought ‘this doesn’t feel right’. Or, if you’ve ever had a positive gut feeling about a person or situation. Intellectually, there’s not logic — but your body gave you info based on the information available.
If your physical system is too full up of the noise of the world, it becomes difficult to process new information day by day. Yes, of course the mind gets overwhelmed, but so too does the body. And, just like you have to change the oil in your car at regular intervals, your system requires regular periods of emptying out in order to run optimally.
The particulars…
… vary. Person to person, the mechanics will look different.
I’ve heard some Human Design teachers say that for every undefined center, you should have 20-30 min of silence on the daily. Eh. Maybe. Maybe not.
To my thinking, the amount of time and method matter less than that whatever your practice, you’re better able to attune to your strategy and authority. If you’re able to do that, job well done and on we go.
However you approach this (and I’ll share some specific ideas in just a minute), its important to keep a few things in mind:
Keep an experimental mindset; this can be an iterative process. If you try out one thing for a bit and it’s not helpful, try something else.
The whole point is to not take more information in. Reading, seeing a movie, scrolling… nope. Doesn’t count. Neither does calling a friend or favorite aunt or coworker.
If you’re not used to sitting in your own head for any length of time (and a minute can be a length of time for some of us), you’ll be uncomfortable. Expect it, account for it, and keep going through the discomfort. It will pass, I assure you.
A few ideas
Remember, we’re talking emptying out — anything that allows you to be in your own energetic, cognitive, and emotional space without interference counts. Here’s a short list of some practices to consider:
drawing
painting
music
cooking
journaling
writing
walking
dancing
running
swimming
day dreaming
prayer
meditation
candle gazing
etc etc etc
Total time spent matters less than quality of time. Frequency of a small practice of taking a few deep breaths before bed will add up more than meditating for an hour once per week.
If any kind of daily practice is still too daunting, try out a once weekly practice. For some folks, having a weekly routine of keeping a sabbath (whether you’re religious or not) can be helpful to re-attune to themselves.
How do you know its working?
Of course, if you’re able to better use your strategy and authority, check. Well done.
More immediately and simply — do you feel better? Do you feel less overwhelmed? Less stressed? More able to deal with whatever life hands you?
If yes, keep going, this is a great practice you’ve taken on. Worth sticking with.
If you want to learn more about how overwhelm shows up in your system — and better yet, what to do about it — grab your Virtual Reading today!
Note: nothing in this article or episode is a substitute for medical or mental health advice; do not delay necessary medical care; please work with a qualified and licensed health care provider in your area.
