Managing Overwhelm: for heroes.

Let's get some new tools in your toolbox!

Overwhelm is seriously no joke. It can get so bad that some people develop "panic-attack" like symptoms that make a bad day worse.

Today we're going to go over a few "strategies" that have worked wonders for me. This post isn't going to have much pontificating. Just straight value.

If you have questions about how to do a particular exercise/technique properly, feel free to reach out to me!

AH! RUN! IT'S THE OVERWHELM MONSTER!!!!!!

ARGHHHHH!

"HUMANS, I HAVE COME TO RUIN YOUR DAY! FEED ME WITH YOUR ANXIETY! I AM OVERWHELM. KNOW MY NAME!"

QUICK! Grab the MAGICAL Spellbook.

Yes, you. Grab the MAGIC book. It'll have the spells you need to defeat the monster.

Please! If you don't act quickly, the overwhelm monster will destroy the town.

We are relying on you.

you decide to open the book.

Spell #1 - Abra (change your environment) Cadabra

This first spell is critical. Anytime you get too close to the overwhelm monster, it's probably because you're engaging in an activity or line of thinking that triggers the monster.

Incantation: When I feel overwhelmed, I will immediately stop what I am doing and shift my environment.

Go outside and walk. Tell yourself.

"Listen, for the next 10-15minutes, I will forget about all my worries completely. When I come back, I can continue to worry. But right now, let me be free of this."

Many are not AWARE of their emotions and cannot tell they're about to reach a deep state of overwhelm until it is too late.

Catch it early. Shift your environment. Give yourself a chance to reduce your thought RPMs

The quantity of thinking happening in your mind can be likened to the speedometer of a car. When you're overwhelmed, you're going to red-line your mind.

Eventually, your car will break down because of the stress. Don't do the same to your mind.  

Spell #2 - Conjour the HAKALAU Spirit

This second spell helps you clear your mind of all worries. It helps access a part of your brain that handles spatial processing. It is deeply soothing and can help mitigate those panic feelings.

The Incantation: I will use my peripheral vision to help my brain slip into an expansive state.

Here's how to do it.

There are three steps.

1. Pick a point that is slightly above the horizon.
2. Softly gaze at that point.
3. Now engage your peripheral vision while holding the gaze. Look as far left & right as possible while still looking at that point.

You can wiggle your fingers close to the edge of your vision and try to hold that in your mind.

As you do this, your brain will stop running as linearly. You'll get a chance to see things from a holistic point of view.

Your overwhelm happens because of an obsession with 1 thought. It's very focused. This spell will make you see the big picture.

Use it wisely.

Spell #3 - Unlock The Winds Of Calmness

This next spell lets you call the wind to help aid you in times of distress.

Incantation: I will do alternate nostril & emergency breathing whenever I feel the monster close by.

Let's go through how to do each.

ALTERNATE NOSTRIL BREATHING

The alternate nostril breathing will help balance your nervous system. It'll clean out all the frustrated energy and bring you back to relative balance.

Emergency Breathing

This breathing will help bring massive change very quickly.

Start with breathing in 5 seconds (belly breath) - holding for as long is comfortable - breathing out for 10 seconds.

Repeat this until you notice your skin getting hot. And your mental state changes.

Spell #4 - Yogic Sleep

This spell is one of the most potent spells. It can cure burnout, stress, anxiety, and overwhelm.

It can even make you feel less sleepy...

The incantation: I will put on a guided Yoga Nidra session once a day so that the overwhelm monster can never creep up on me

Find a place you won't be disturbed. Lay down comfortably. Don't move. Follow the guided tape.

Wait! Don't Stop! It's Working.

The monster is getting weaker. Keep going, hero!

Spell #5 - ASTRAL TRAVEL

This spell is for high-level magicians. Is that you?

If so, come learn a spell allowing you to gain NEW perspectives.

Incantations: What would I tell a friend in the same situation as me? Let me be easy on myself – and wish myself peace & harmony.

The spell is straightforward. Ask yourself how you would advise a friend who had found themselves in a similar situation. Notice how kind, empathetic, and understanding you would be.

Why aren't you that way with yourself?

The Spell:

Tell yourself 5 times, "May I be in peace & harmony."

As you say it, in your mind's eye, see yourself from a different vantage point. A different pov. Like you're watching yourself from the outside through the eyes of someone else.

Now imagine a bright light infused with the power of your spell washing over this person (you). Feel those feelings. Let yourself become uplifted.

Remember that from this perspective, you can talk to yourself in a way similar to how you would talk to that friend.

Spell #6 - OM CHANTING

This spell has the power to wash your mind of all negativity.

The incantation: I will repeat the sound OM repeatedly — I will continue until my mind is still.

Make the noise: AUM – Like in the video above.

And visualize the following as you do.

Break apart the chant into 3 "sounds."

AH (A - in AUM)

OH (U - in AUM)

MM (M - in AUM)

As you start (breathe in) and exhale, make the sound AHHHHH and see how that sound originates from your belly area, then flow into the sound OHHHH and see how that sound stimulates your chest area and finally end with MMMMM and see how that awakens your neck and above.

Spell #7 - MELT INTO NATURE

This spell will reconnect you with the power of nature. I have fashioned this spell from my own experiments.

The Incantation: I will breathe life into the nature around me and exchange energy with the earth.

I have used this spell to help release excess energy I may have stored in my mind. The stuff that causes overthinking.

Here are the steps:

1. Find some nature (a tree, a bird, or anything)
2. Take some time to appreciate it. Take it in. Gaze and love it.
3. When ready, breathe in. 4-6 seconds is good
4. Breathe out for 12-15 seconds slowly.
5. While breathing out, send good energy and thoughts to nature, and feel how that energy is absorbed into the plant/animal.
6. Use your hand to push your breath and visualize the energy leaving your body and entering the body of that piece of nature.
7. Repeat until you feel grounded

Spell #8 - LOVE YOUR OVERWHELM

This spell is only for the bravest of the brave.

At some level. Your overwhelm is simply an expression of your psyche. A misunderstood friend. In some sense, it is not an enemy to be defeated or a monster.

It is a part of you that is TELLING you that you need to pay attention to something.

It's the messenger. Not the enemy.

It would be unethical to attack the messenger in real life, so why are you doing the same?

The incantation: I know this overwhelming feeling is simply my body's intelligence acting the way it knows how.  I will heed its call.

This might be tough. But it's not like YOUR emotions are coming from someone else. There is no secret organization that has been tasked with sending negative emotions or overwhelm your way.

It's just your internal feedback system. And so you should LOVE that it's doing its job.

Love yourself.

YOU DID IT! YOU TAMED THE MONSTER!!!

You saved the town! We can now live in peace.

Thank you, kind hero. We will never forget you.

Best of luck with your future endeavours.

with love