Admit it, you’re scrolling through your phone skimming through headlines. What happened now? What is going on with this election? This pandemic? What did I miss yesterday? What will tomorrow bring?
Whew! Stop for just a moment and take a deep breath.
Inhale in.
Exhale out.
Close your eyes if you wish. Pause. Do nothing. Inhale in. Exhale out.
I do it too, the doom-scrolling that is. Although, I’ve gotten better at not doing it. Staying informed is one thing….continually living in the past and future filled with worry is another. When I venture into the latter, I stop. Oh, and then there is the constant state of the TO DO list. Once you snap out of it and put the phone down, it’s time to get cracking on all that there is to do. It’s one thing to keep the mind organized, it’s another to feign control. Can you spot the difference?
Stop again.
Inhale in.
Exhale out.
Notice how you feel. Pause. Do nothing.
Through all of our efforts to stay in control, we actually become ungrounded. Without even realizing it we become disconnected from our bodies. Disconnected from the here and now. When our minds spiral in this mode repeatedly, we can easily become unstable. We may not react the way we wish. We may not get the most out of what we have come to receive. We are anxious. We have handed over our energetic power.
Grounding is a huge component to Restorative Healing- it helps us feel safe and connected to the earth. Grounding is Step 1- Root Chakra. We can’t regulate our nervous system and rest if we still feel in 'danger'. Being grounded eases our anxiety, feelings of flightiness, and gives us clarity.
The first chakra, or energy wheel, in our bodies is the Root Chakra (Muladhara). This is where all of our healing begins. It is our connection with Mother Earth. It is what keeps us humble, aware, connected to our bodies, and gives us the ability to survive. An often misconception about spiritual practices is that it is all about reaching enlightenment. While we do want our upper chakras open to receive love and expanded intuition, what good is it if our base is closed and unable to trust the earth below us? Once you’re grounded, you can grow.
Grounding is a practice. Take time each day and throughout the day to ground yourself. There are many tools you can use, most of which you are surrounded with and cost nothing.
Ways to ground yourself:
- go for a walk
- appreciate nature, on your walk or from your window
- yoga/ gentle movement. This connects you to your breath and shakes out excess energy
- breath exercises also called pranayama
- restorative yoga (see my pose gallery here)
- meditation (video here)
- crystals such as red jasper, black agate, labradorite.
- clean/ organize / fix things
- get crafty / garden / bake
- take a salt bath ( I've been creating some magic bath teas...stay tuned!)
- skin care rituals
- aromatherapy; lavender, chamomile, rose, tree scents, toast, cut grass, etc.
Now more than ever, it is important to feel grounded and clear. Incorporating these practices into your daily life with intention will make it easier to connect to the ground when you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or heavy with too much to do. It’s okay to take time for yourself. Set a timer on your phone if it helps!
It’s okay to pause.
Feel the ground underneath your feet.
Inhale in.
Exhale out.
Repeat.