Between Borders and Burnout: Finding Belonging in a Disconnected World
What do you get when you mix an American expat living in Canada, a lifelong Canadian, and a global identity crisis?
You get this conversation.
In Episode 156 of The Empowered and Embodied Show, Kim Romain and Louise Neil dive into the emotional reality of what it means to stay grounded when the world feels anything but steady. From the quiet grief of national identity shifts to the overwhelm of staying informed, this episode is a permission slip to breathe, reconnect, and come back to yourself.
Because, as Kim says,
“This isn’t about nationalism—it’s about nervous systems. And ours are tapped the hell out.”
When Identity Feels Shaky and the News Won’t Stop
This episode begins with something we’ve all been feeling—discomfort. Not just the discomfort of watching the world change, but the discomfort of realizing that we’re also changing with it.
Kim shares her experience of being an American living in Canada—and how even naming her nationality in conversation now carries a different weight. Louise reflects on how Canadian pride has begun showing up more visibly, and how these shifts in nationalism, belonging, and pride are creating both connection and dissonance.
But here’s the truth they return to over and over again: This moment isn’t just political. It’s physiological.
Our nervous systems are overstimulated.
Our bandwidth is maxed out.
And our coping mechanisms are worn thin.
The Emotional Weight of “Doing Enough”
One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is when Louise shares a client story:
“I can’t turn it off,” the client said about the news. “It’s my duty to be putting my reasonableness into the ring.”
This isn’t just about being informed—it’s about the emotional toll of trying to carry the world while still managing work, relationships, and inner peace.
And for many of us, unplugging feels disingenuous.
But as Kim gently offers:
“Burned-out voices don’t move movements.”
The question isn’t just:
🌀 Am I doing enough?
It’s also:
🌀 Am I doing this in a way I can sustain?
Finding Common Ground in a Divided World
Amidst all the tension, what brings us back?
Curiosity. Presence. And community.
Louise shares how she’s been staying grounded by connecting locally—talking to people, asking real questions, and listening without judgment.
“Curiosity helps us connect,” she says. “Because even though we’re different, we’re also the same. We’re people. And we can find common ground.”
That common ground might show up in conversations about food, music, family, or shared experiences. And that’s where real connection starts—not with agreement, but with belonging.
As Kim reflects:
“When we hyper-focus on everything outside of our control, we disconnect from ourselves. That’s when we stop feeling like we belong—anywhere.”
When Everything Is Wobbly, Start With the Body
This isn’t just a mindset issue—it’s an embodiment issue.
Throughout the episode, both hosts offer small but powerful grounding practices:
Breathwork to calm the nervous system
Community as a mirror for shared experience
Daily rituals to return to presence
Intentionally creating space for both rest and resilience
Because in a world that won’t slow down, your ability to pause, notice, and choose is everything.
Key Takeaways
Why “How are you?” is a loaded question in today’s world
The emotional toll of national identity and why it feels different now
Living across borders: identity, belonging, and grief
Strategies for grounding yourself when the external chaos ramps up
Why community and shared humanity are our greatest tools right now
How embodied awareness supports nervous system health and resilience
The invitation to notice, feel, and respond (instead of react)
Key Moments
00:00 – Welcome to the Empowered & Embodied Show
01:38 – What “fine” really means right now
03:13 – Feeling out of place across borders
10:36 – “I can’t turn it off”—the emotional toll of staying informed
13:51 – Disillusionment and duty: the inner burden of global awareness
17:08 – Quiet vs. loud nationalism: Canada and the U.S.
21:13 – Identity grief & the unraveling of once-held symbols
28:19 – “The call is coming from inside the house”
31:55 – Finding common ground through shared humanity
34:03 – Grounding practices for nervous system regulation
42:17 – You are the grown-up in the room—now what?
43:51 – Cosmic shifts, personal alignment, and embodied awareness
47:03 – Offerings, reflections, and wrap-up
CONNECT WITH US:
Join Kim’s Rising Visionaries community: https://kimromain.com/rising-visionaries
Check out Louise’s Rise and Redefine program: https://louiseneil.com/services/rise-and-redefine
Ready to reconnect with yourself and rise into your next chapter?
Join Louise for Rise and Redefine — a 7-week journey designed to support your whole self through midlife, menopause, and meaningful transformation.
Limited to just 14 women+. The next enrollment starts now. Check it out here. Rise and Redefine: Your Menopause Journey Redefined.
