Overwhelmed and Over It? Let Go of the Push and Find Presence
In Episode 154 of The Empowered & Embodied Show, co-hosts Kim Romain and Louise Neil drop into a raw, real-time conversation about what it means to move through life when everything feels like it’s pressing in from all sides.
What begins as Louise naming her overwhelm—juggling a launch, spinning plates, and feeling scattered—quickly unfolds into a deeper exploration of how we respond to chaos, how we self-sabotage, and how we can come back to ourselves when it feels like we’re unraveling.
This isn’t an episode filled with polished steps or neat resolutions. It’s an honest look at what it means to be human—and how we soften into resilience instead of pushing through.
Why “Slow the F*ck Down” Might Be the Most Powerful Advice Right Now
Overwhelm doesn’t just come from the outside. Sometimes, it’s the pressure we put on ourselves—the belief that we have to get it all done, get it done perfectly, and get it done now. In the thick of that pressure, we lose connection to what really matters.
As Kim reminds us, the antidote is often simple (but not easy):
Slow the f*ck down.
Because it’s in the slowing that we can actually listen.
To our bodies.
To our breath.
To what’s true beneath the noise.
How We Unconsciously Make Things Harder—And How to Stop
The episode explores the three-layer reality of overwhelm:
Things feel hard.
They are hard.
And then—we make them even harder.
We add pressure, complexity, control, and fear.
We overcomplicate.
We overthink.
We grip too tightly.
But the shift begins with awareness:
💭 Where am I overcomplicating this?
💭 What would this look like if it were easy?
💭 Where am I trying to force instead of feel?
Alignment of Mind, Body & Soul Brings Clarity
in Chaos
One of the most grounded moments in the episode is when Louise reflects on the difference between spinning and slowing. By pausing and reconnecting to her breath, she notices a shift—not just in her nervous system, but in her clarity.
Kim adds that true alignment comes when we connect mind, body, and soul—and that when all three are in conversation, we’re able to move with more ease, even through the mess.
This alignment isn't a one-time thing—it’s a practice.
A coming back.
A remembering.
Resilience Isn’t About Being Tough—It’s About
Being Real
Too often, resilience is misunderstood as pushing through no matter what. But Louise and Kim challenge that narrative.
Real resilience isn’t about gritting your teeth.
It’s about shedding what’s not yours to carry.
It’s about being present in the hard without losing yourself in it.
It’s about softening into your truth and honoring your own capacity.
And it’s not weakness—it’s wisdom.
How Language, Awareness & Breath Shift Everything
Throughout the conversation, Louise reflects on how her own energy shifted—simply through naming what was real, breathing into it, and giving herself permission to be seen.
That’s the power of presence.
That’s the power of breath.
That’s the power of choosing language that opens instead of contracts.
The way we speak about what’s happening shapes how we move through it.
And sometimes, that one deep breath becomes the gateway back to clarity.
Key Takeaways from Episode 154
Slow the f*ck down. Clarity doesn’t come from speed—it comes from presence.
Overwhelm has layers. Notice when you’re adding complexity that isn’t needed.
Alignment is wisdom. When mind, body, and soul connect, you begin to see a way through.
Resilience is a softening. You don’t need to be a tough cookie to move through hard things.
Language matters. The way you speak to yourself shapes your experience of difficulty.
Key Moments
0:00 – Introduction
2:41 – Talking through overwhelm and when everything feels hard.
6:32 – Exploring our need for control and how it complicates things.
10:30 – The behind-the-scenes messiness of launching something new.
14:22 – Using energetic timing to create more ease and flow.
18:13 – Why aligning mind, body, and soul matters in tough moments.
21:12 – Redefining resilience as softness, not pushing through.
24:14 – Embracing the messiness of the full human experience.
28:25 – Spotting where we overcomplicate and how to simplify.
30:45 – Shifting language and perspective to soften what feels hard.
34:35 – Finding our power and agency in chaotic times.
39:30 – The role of community in helping us come back to ourselves.
46:21 – Sharing what we’re working on and inviting connection.
Are you ready to reclaim your power and live (and work) with more ease? Discover your unique blueprint to do just that with Kim's Strengthscape Self-Mastery Profile.
Looking for something different and feeling lost about where to start? Rediscover your purpose and how to craft a career that makes sense. Check out Louise's Midlife Career Mastery program.
