On Being Grounded
What does being grounded mean to you? To me, being grounded means being fully present in my body. It involves experiencing each moment as it comes, even when it includes pain or discomfort.
Discomfort is something we often try to avoid or dismiss. If we don’t completely reject it, we tend to want to speed through it or replace it with something more pleasant. How can we stay embodied when we feel uncomfortable with the sensations in our bodies or the thoughts in our minds? When I experience discomfort in my body or the fluctuating emotions and thoughts of my psyche, how do I return to a state of balance?
I learned from many wise beings that the key is to embrace discomfort rather than push it away. Don’t ignore it, judge it, or become frustrated by it. Simply observe it without judgment or rejection. For me, this means practicing befriending my feelings, and nothing has been more challenging for me than dealing with the emotion of fear.
Fear is the emotion that resonates within our body's primary energy center, known as the First Chakra, which is linked to survival. In my years of practicing Energy Healing, I've found that survival issues and the emotion of fear are common, and we often begin our healing journey by addressing them.
When I start a healing journey with a new client, we often need to first focus on grounding ourselves—individually and together—and bringing harmony and balance to First Chakra issues related to home, security, and belonging. Feeling safe and secure involves knowing and feeling that we belong, are understood, and accepted. It means having a solid foundation, being part of a 'tribe,' and having people we can trust and depend on.
Sometimes it's due to a lack of support from those around us or our own inability to validate, accept, and love ourselves, despite all our perfect imperfections. Other times, it stems from unprocessed emotions from past or present life traumas, causing us to 'freeze' and cling to unconscious habits or conscious practices that provide a sense of safety and security. Often, it manifests as a disconnection from Source or Divine Love.
“I have the right to be here!”
Grounding means becoming fully present and accepting the current moment as it is. It involves being completely aware of my consciousness in this body, at this moment, with this breath. It doesn't imply apathy or condoning external events. Instead, it means recognizing that we are not our thoughts or our emotions, and gently redirecting our focus to the presence within us. The moment we create some distance from our constant, involuntary thoughts or stop being overwhelmed by our emotions is the moment we find our footing and ground ourselves deeply.
It may be tempting to try to eliminate thoughts or unpleasant emotions. We now know from medical science that repressing and suppressing emotions (in the Conscious Living realm it’s known as Spiritual Bypassing) is harmful to the body and can make you sick. A more effective (and healthier) approach is to continually return to the present moment and not get lost in the past-future game of psyche. The here-now is where we can ground ourselves—ground our awareness in the expansive rhythm of our breath, and our bodies will naturally follow. When -not if- you reach that place of stillness, you will recognize it. In that space between thoughts, you will find peace, love, and joy.
If you wish to explore further, consider these questions regarding the First chakra themes of survival, safety, and security. Reflect on each question, notice any bodily sensations, and listen attentively:
Where have I sought belonging but faced rejection or non-acceptance?
What coping mechanisms or habits do I employ?
Where do I still harbor fear?
In what areas of my life do I perceive the world as unsafe?
What prevents me from trusting in the Universe/The Field/The Creative Force/God?"
My favorite practices for grounding
Mindfulness, meditation, and contemplative prayer practices are invaluable tools for fully embracing the present moment. Even a brief practice like focusing our attention on the lower part of our bodies, or feeling our feet firmly rooted to the ground and wiggling our toes, can significantly help us reconnect with our bodies. There are various approaches you can explore to find what resonates best with you—whether it's through traditional meditation, a mindful walking practice, or connecting with nature. Personally, I find a combination of these methods most effective.
Over the past two months, my daily routine has centered around gardening, a practice that consistently grounds me in my body and synchronizes me with my breath. I immersed myself in learning about gardening, meticulously planned and designed the gardens, dug the plots, sowed and planted, and now I dedicate myself to nurturing young rose bushes and wildflower gardens. This journey has been both challenging and exhilarating, presenting me with valuable lessons along the way.
In gardening, it's often said there are no mistakes, only experiments. I wholeheartedly agree—each step has been an enlightening experiment in staying present in my body, attuned to fleeting thoughts that emerge in the quiet of the morning, accompanied only by a gentle breeze and the symphony of bird songs.
A delightful mindfulness meditation offered to us by involves reciting the following verses - one during inhalation, the next during exhalation, and repeating this cycle. This meditation is among the many versions shared by Zen Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, one that I’ve cherished and engaged in for years. This practice can be done seated in a chair, on a meditation cushion, or even during a walking meditation. The key essence lies in the automatic grounding sensation that arises each time you remind yourself, consistently, to “Be here, now!”
“Breathing in, I calm my body,
Breathing out, I smile
Breathing in, this present moment,
Breathing out, wonderful moment”
I encourage you to explore a grounding breathing exercise. Breath is a powerful tool for swiftly engaging the nervous system, guiding it toward the rest-and-digest phase, or the parasympathetic response, where healing thrives. You can try this brief 5-minute breathing exercise: Inhale through your nose to a count of 4, hold the breath for a count of 4, then exhale slowly through your mouth to a count of 6. Repeat this for 5 minutes. After your final exhale, return to your natural breathing rhythm. Sit quietly and observe.
