We think we’re overwhelmed because of external circumstances — calls, deadlines, obligations. But Joe argues what’s actually happening is that big emotions are present and we’re not feeling them. They’re not being allowed to pass through, so the system becomes overloaded.
“We think we’re overwhelmed because of x, y, and z… but what’s actually happening on an emotional level is that there’s all these big emotions and you’re not feeling them.”
The overwhelm always has both an external component and an internal component of unprocessed feelings. When people move through those emotional states, the overwhelm immediately goes away. The practical implication: the question isn’t “how do I manage all this?” but “what am I not letting myself feel?”
For some people the entry point is “what am I scared of feeling?” For others it’s easier to ask “what am I scared of happening, and what would I have to feel if that happened?” — then feeling through that feared scenario slowly and completely.
Related Concepts
- Suppressing one emotion suppresses all
- Overwhelm begins when you leave flow to manage reality
- False ends keep you stuck
- Unfelt emotions create physical stress through muscle tension
- Feel through the feared outcome to dissolve overwhelm
- Emotional release resolves work overwhelm