I love to be in nature, I live near the mountains and it very easy for me to go hiking through the trails. Within minutes I’m walking with the ancient firs, cedars and ferns and everything comes into balance. It’s a huge part of my self care, connection and I am so blessed to live where I do.
As I was walking along the path the other day, I was focusing on my breath and the crunch of the leaves under my feet. I love that sound – it reminds me of being a kid playing in the leaves. As I walked I noticed how peaceful I felt, I was “just being” in this beautiful forest and enjoying every moment of it. I knew that I was grounded in the moment and thought, how many people feel grounded and supported in their life?
What does being grounded actually mean? I was looking through my personal assistant Google and liked this meaning: A person who is well grounded means they have experienced many areas of life. Made it through difficult situations, and come through it well. They can handle many situations and maintain their equanimity.
I’d like to take it further than that, for me it also means that I am present, I’m here in the moment. It’s being connected to the earth and your body. Getting balanced so you aren’t just in your mind.
When you are going through a challenging transition, such as we are now, you are in a heightened state of stress which can lead to being unfocused, sad, overwhelmed, exhausted, and frustrated. You’re in the mind thinking about your situation, often replaying it over and over again. The issue here is that you’re in your mind and not in your body so you won’t be grounded.
Below are some signs that you are not grounded: – you’re constantly looping in your thoughts and can’t quiet it – you may be thinking about the past and feel sad, angry or depressed – you walk into a room and think – why am I in here – you book 2 appointments at the same time – you’re driving to a meeting and when you arrive you don’t remember the drive – you leave and forget your purse, keys, or glasses (something personal)
Many people will think, “oh I’m getting forgetful”. In some cases that is true but mainly it’s because you are too busy and aren’t grounded in the body.
Here are some practical ways to ground yourself:
1. Get more sleep. 2. Go into nature – go for a walk, a hike, or just sit. 3. Get some form exercise. I’m not saying you have to run a marathon, just do something every day. I.e. walking, swimming, hiking or some exercise you like. 4. Spend time in the garden and tend to plants in your home. 5. Eat root vegetables (vegetables from the ground) - potatoes, onions, carrots, and radishes. 6. Drink more water – many people are dehydrated and this leads to brain fog. 7. Drink a bit of coffee but be careful because coffee is stimulating and you don’t want too much.
8. Grounding Tea – Tulsi also known as Holy Basil – remember to buy organic. 9. Grounding Essential Oils – Cedarwood or Frankincense.
10. Try this practice for Grounding -
Remember: We are complex beings with many aspects. This is a feeling experience, so for people who are logical (in their minds) I ask you to be open - open your mind, be curious like a child. Be playful with this and allow it to be fun.
Download a copy of the practice here:
This is a practice and it may take some time to notice what you are feeling. I encourage you to do this exercise daily to see what happens – it only takes a few minutes. It takes 21 days to form a habit, so commit to yourself and watch what happens.
Did you like this blog article? Reach out to me and let me know how this has helped you. To go deeper with this particular topic, listen to my radio interview on my YouTube Channel.
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