Elaine McGoogan is the founder of The Oneness of You and is a transformational guide promoting self-realisation and oneness. She focuses on embodied transformation and holistic self-awareness. Her programmes, 'Transformational Journey' and 'Living Your Magnificence', aim to reveal an individuals' true essence expressed through the body.
We’ve all faced moments when life feels chaotic and overwhelming, but the truth is, the same energy that fuels overwhelm can be transformed into a force for abundance.
What actually is overwhelm?
Overwhelm is something we’ve all experienced, but what exactly is it? The dictionary defines it as “the fact or feeling of not being able to cope or deal with something.” From an energetic perspective, we can think of overwhelm in two broad categories: when we have too much on our plate and when we experience intense life events.
In the first, overwhelm shows up when we’re juggling an abundance of projects, deadlines and responsibilities – we have a very long “to do” list! We often label this as negative, while "abundance" is viewed positively. But what if these concepts exist on the same energetic spectrum? What if overwhelm and abundance are simply different expressions of the same energy, vibrating at different frequencies? By shifting our perspective, we can move the dial from the chaotic energy of overwhelm to the expansive energy of abundance.
The effects of overwhelm and abundance
Healthy stress, or "eustress," can be productive. It motivates us, sparks creativity, and can feel exhilarating as we manifest our visions. However, when this stress tips into "too muchness" it can affect our health, disturb our sleep, our ability to make clear choices and potentially lead to burnout. The challenge is to recognise when we have crossed this threshold and find ways to return to balance.
The second type of overwhelm stems from life’s intense experiences—death, divorce, loss, illness or even joyful events like the birth of a child. These situations flood us with emotions, leaving us feeling vulnerable, fragile and often disconnected from our bodies. This intensity brings its own frequency into our energy system which we again label as either "good" or "bad."
However, when tended to with care, we can navigate these overwhelming life experiences and transform them into something beautiful. Over time, we may move from grief or pain into a space of abundance — an abundance of memories, emotional maturity and a deeper connection with ourselves.
Energy practices to empower us
We are lucky to live in a world rich with healing modalities that can help us manage and move through overwhelm. Traditional systems like Chinese medicine and Ayurveda offer ancient wisdom, while newer approaches like my own form of energy work as a Brennan practitioner, or EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), Havening and Bio-Resonance focus on balancing our energy fields.
Each of us resonates differently with these modalities, so it's important to explore and discover which forms of energy healing most effectively bring us back into balance and also help us to build resilience and expand our sense of who we are.
When we are aligned energetically, we are more equipped to handle life’s challenges and avoid being swept away by overwhelm.
Moving the dial from overwhelm to abundance: 5 steps
When overwhelm takes hold, it can feel as though we are stuck in an endless loop. However, there are practical steps we can take to shift our energy:
1. See beauty everywhere and in everything
One powerful way to shift from overwhelm to abundance is to start noticing the beauty in all things — whether in people, nature or even inanimate objects. By focusing on the beauty around us, we naturally raise our vibration and reduce the weight of overwhelm.
Play with this idea: as you tune into the beauty in the world around you, notice how it shifts the energetic charge of overwhelm. Does it lighten the load?
2. Complete cycles
Our lives operate in cycles, much like the rhythm of our heartbeat or the cycles in nature. These cycles — expansion, pause, contraction, pause — are essential both for balance and to deeply nourish ourselves. Yet in our fast-paced world, we often rush through or leave cycles incomplete. When we don’t pause to reflect or rest, we get stuck in "doing" mode, leading to overwhelm.
Start paying attention to where you might be leaving cycles unfinished. Are you taking on too much without completing things? Do you jump from one task to the next without allowing for closure or integration?
By consciously completing cycles, you create space for new energy to flow and reduce the buildup of overwhelm.
3. Practice gentleness and ask for help
Be gentle and compassionate with yourself. Overwhelm often tricks us into thinking we must do everything ourselves. We fear judgment or feel that admitting we need help is a sign of weakness. However, asking for help is a powerful act of self-care.
When you feel overwhelmed, ask yourself: “What would love do?” and “What is truly mine to do?” These questions can help you identify where you need support and where you can let go.
4. The value of nourishing your body
Moving from overwhelm to abundance involves practical steps that can be incredibly helpful, but it's important to remember that these are not a silver bullet. Whilst not a silver bullet, taking care of your physical body plays a crucial role in managing your energy and preventing overwhelm from taking control.
It’s well known that overwhelm impacts not only our mind but also our body. For instance, when stress disrupts your sleep, simple practices can soothe your nervous system. Consider a foot massage or an Epsom salts bath to help ground your energy and reconnect with your body. Nourishing yourself with healthy food, gentle exercise and moments of stillness is essential.
5. Cultivate coherence
Coherence is the harmonious alignment of your heart, mind, and body. The more you cultivate coherence, the easier it becomes to stay centred, even in stressful situations. Practices such as those offered by HeartMath focus on developing this state of inner harmony. Over time, coherence becomes your natural way of being, helping you to navigate life’s challenges with more ease.
Set the intention: “My desire is to be in coherence with my environment, my surroundings, and my life.”
The benefits of energy work
Energy work expands our awareness, helping us bring coherence to our entire energy system. This not only calms the nervous system but also enhances self-confidence and self-worth. You become more resilient, more capable of establishing healthy boundaries and better equipped to say, “No, I cannot take this on right now.”
From the perspective of energy work, healthy boundaries are needed to navigate your day-to-day life. However, as you become more resilient, your energy field expands and becomes bigger, and so does your ability to hold space for yourself and others. There is less of a need for boundaries – they become more fluid. You gain a clearer sense of what to prioritise and how to manage your time and energy. The bigger picture becomes more visible, allowing you to move from a state of overwhelm to one of empowered abundance.
Conclusion: Empower yourself by managing your energy
Learning to shift the dial from overwhelm to abundance is an empowering practice. It helps you know yourself more deeply, regulate your energy and bring balance into your life. Be curious about how you manage your energy. What habitual patterns or cultural conditioning do you fall into?
By embracing energy work and consciously managing the flow of energy in your life, you can transform overwhelm into abundance, creating a life that feels more aligned, balanced and fulfilling.
If you are currently experiencing overwhelm or have been going through life changing experiences, and would like to explore how energy work can support you, I invite you to contact me via my website.
Read more from Elaine McGoogan
Elaine McGoogan, Energy worker & Transformational Coach
Elaine knew from the age 30 that her mission in life was to support people energetically during change and transformation. She understands very well the challenges we face when making changes having travelled and lived in many countries. The biggest constant in her life has been her work in the fields of energy and transformation. She trained for 6 years with the Barbara Brennan School of Healing, focussing on energetic body-centred personal process and healing and has been working with clients since 2007. Elaine is particularly adept at creating a safe space for clients to explore their true nature, their magnificence and mastery. A space that connects you to the bigger field of all possibilities.
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