Grounded
You’re grounded! Most of us probably heard this used negatively in our teenage years, but I want you to get grounded in a good way. Dealing with stress can make recovery challenging. I know when I feel stressed, my first inclination is to reach for a cookie (or five). I have discovered that getting myself grounded really reduces my stress.
What does it mean to be grounded? It means being able to maintain balance and harmony. It also means living in the moment and appreciating the here and now. It allows us to remain emotionally balanced despite our circumstances. It comes from within. What are some ways you can get grounded?
Helping others is a wonderful way to help yourself. Go out, and do a random act of kindness. Your stress levels will go way down, I promise! What about surrendering some of your problems to your higher power? Let go. Let God. Take care of YOU. There are so many ways to do this. Take a walk, get a massage or pedicure, have coffee at a nice little café, listen to music or watch a sunrise. While you are doing these things, really luxuriate in the moment and enjoy! No distractions allowed. Something I like to do is just place both feet on the ground and actually grounded. It literally and figuratively gives you the power of the ground beneath your feet holding you up and giving you strength. It is very effective during stressful situations or difficult conversations. I use it at work all the time.
I like to do grounding exercises to get my mind in a good place. Below is one that you can do any time. It was provided to me by Trish Baker and Petra LeBeau of Shamans Healing Circle (http://www.shamanshealingcircle.com), and I give it to you with thanks to them:
- Remove your shoes and socks. Stand up, or sit straight up in a chair with both feet flat on the ground. Close your eyes.
- Focus on slowing and deepening your breathing. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.
- Imagine that you are a mighty oak tree. Visualize the circumference of your trunk and the texture of your bark. Imagine that from the waist down are your roots and above are the trunk and leaves.
- Visualize your roots growing down from your feet and deep into the ground.
- Once your roots are at least six feet in the Earth, picture the energy of the Earth like bits of diamond dust sparkling all around.
- Imagine this diamond dust being absorbed into your roots and rising slowly up your roots and into your trunk.
- As you visualize the diamond dust rising up your trunk, stretch your arms up and out above your head just like the branches of your mighty oak tree.
- See the diamond dust continue to rise and energize every branch and leaf of your tree.
- Tilt your head back so that your face is warmed by the sun, and smile.
- Take three deep breaths while standing with your head tilted back and your arms outstretched each time visualizing more and more diamond dust energizing you.
- Slowly return your head to an upright position and bring your arms down with your hands coming together in prayer position over you heart.
- Give thanks in whatever way you feel is appropriate.
It might feel difficult at first. Repeat the exercise daily, and with practice you’ll be able to perform it better each time. Good luck, and enjoy!
Pam