By Alexandra Gellin
Spring is in the air already, and it feels like a very welcome invitation to reconnect with the Earth and community, as outdoor activities resume. The past 2 years of pandemic life have left us all, me included, feeling disconnected, disoriented, and anxious. There are few things that make me feel less connected, to my body and to the present moment, than sitting in front of a computer 8 hours a day, as I and many others have done at times during the pandemic. After all that the pandemic did for our minds, bodies and relationships, grounding definitely feels needed, providing the foundation necessary to grow and move forward toward our goals. By grounding, I am referring to the concept of being present in the here and now and in my body.
You may have heard the popular quote, “Good parents give their children roots and wings. Roots to know where home is and wings to fly away and exercise what’s been taught to them.”, often attributed to the scientist Jonas Salk and/or the German poet Goethe. These words beautifully illustrate the relationship between grounding and growth, how a prerequisite to healthy growth is being grounded. I feel like this is important to highlight because the idea of being grounded or very present in one’s body doesn’t always seem important to being creative or successful. In fact, some people, myself included, may even feel like their roots or their body weighs them down, that to achieve their highest heights they need to leave those things behind. The truth is, just like a tree, the deeper and stronger our connection to the ground, the bigger and more fruitful we can become.
Grounding to me is connection to my true, whole self that is also a part of our shared universe. It can also be about connection to earth or nature, connection to one’s ancestral roots or family values, or connection to love and truth. All of these entities can help us feel grounded, and when feeling grounded, we can connect with them more easily.
You may be wondering what exactly I mean by “feeling grounded”.
Let’s begin with what a lack of grounding feels like - unfocused, confused, lacking in confidence, unmotivated, lonely, scared. These may sound a lot like symptoms of anxiety or depression, and they are.
Being grounded brings us back to a balanced working order, the way nature intended us to be. When grounded, we know where we belong in ourselves, the earth and in relation to others. We feel mentally and emotionally stable, present, and at ease. And when we feel this way, we have greater impact, we feel more confident, more connected, and more open.
Grounding techniques are various and what makes you ground is somewhat unique to you.
Some things that commonly help with grounding are:
Spending time in nature, Walking mindfully, Breath awareness,Wholesome meals, Yoga and qi gong, Meditation and visualization (like this one from Insight Timer https://insig.ht/BwV1zW54xnb), Time with family and/or good friends, Earthy aromas like patchouli, vetiver, and woody scents like pine or cedar, Meaningful objects, like a touchstone, a favorite stuffed animal or a family heirloom
Some questions to help you find what it is that grounds you:
When/where/with whom do you feel like you can be your whole self?
When do you feel most confident?
Where do you feel totally at ease?
What activities make you feel balanced?