When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed–Try the MEE Approach

I realized some time ago that overwhelm has been a defining factor of my life.

It started, no doubt, when I had surgery as a one-week-old baby for bowel obstructions. Then I burst my stitches. And got pneumonia.

Photo by Josh Riemer

Implicit memory—the memory stored in the nervous system and cells—suggests that it was an overwhelming, traumatic experience that shaped the first 7 weeks of my life, and set my nervous system’s “thermostat” to overwhelm.

On top of that, there was growing up with Childhood Emotional Neglect, and possessing the trait of Sensory Processing Sensitivity, or simply, being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP).

Being highly sensitive means that I feel and process everything deeply, I am easily overstimulated (hence the overwhelm), I am by nature emotional and empathetic (hence the CEN was more damaging), and I am sensitive to subtle stimuli (I take in a lot more information than less sensitive people). Which of course, can also lead to overwhelm.

I didn’t realize all this, of course, until much later in life. And I am so grateful to God for The Healing Codes and the other tools he’s led me to, such as Immanuel Prayer and my CHRIA tools, because I believe God has used them to heal a lot of those cellular memories and begin the process of rewiring my nervous system.

I say all this to let you know how effective energy healing can be.

As the negative energy from those cellular memories heals, it frees up energy to find creative solutions.

One idea for dealing with the overwhelm I’m facing now, being a caregiver to a family member with a terminal illness as well as needing to handle everything in the home, along with my business and more, came to me this morning.

I call it identifying the MEE: the Minimum Effective Effort needed for any given project or focus.

It’s not always easy for a recovering perfectionist/idealist like myself to settle for the MEE, but I’m seeing how absolutely necessary it is for me right now. 

Notice that it’s the Minimum Effective Effort. This is not settling for mediocrity.

Photo by photo nic

First, I have to clarify the most important areas of focus for me right now: the caregiving, the home, my health, and my business. My current Divine Design involves bringing God’s light and power to these areas.

Then I have to identify the MEE for each area, and each responsibility as it comes up. I pray to find the easiest and most effective route.

Then there’s identifying the things that tend to distract me from focusing on what’s most important.

At this time, that would be the news and emails. Many things interest me,  but I have to say no to a lot of good things because there’s only so much time and energy in any given day.

As an HSP, it’s necessary to be aware of how many inputs I’m allowing in, even if they are good inputs. My nervous system still has to “digest” all that I’m taking in, which may require more energy expenditure than a less sensitive person might experience.

Photo by Gabriel Meinert

Julie Bjelland has a useful concept: being aware of how many “energy points” are used up as you go through your day. If we all theoretically have 100 energy points (our capacity) in a day, how many of those are used up by commuting, dealing with technology, working, interacting with others? It will differ for each of us.

This calls for ruthless filtering. It calls for an awareness when energy points are depleted and the “stress bucket” is full (usually around 8pm for me).

That’s when I need to increase the energy points by doing something pleasurable but not very stimulating (reading or listening to music), and make sure I’m not going into an energy deficit by, say, listening to the news or even listening to an interesting podcast as I get ready for bed.

When the stress bucket is full, I need to STOP. I need to add some energy points. I need to revisit the Minimum Effective Effort, adjust it if needed, and say “I’ve done enough.”

Perhaps this strategy can help you, too.