Need to Get Grounded? Here are Seven Good Ways

 

The last week in the US has put the entire country on edge as we work through political challenges. And so… a lot of us are more frazzled than usual. Like me. So I’ve been gathering up some really good, fast ways to get re-grounded. In that spirit, here are seven ways that are working for me. Perhaps you’ll find them useful, too.

Lie down and put your hand on your tummy. Did you know your gut has a sort of ‘second brain’ that works with your central nervous system, and holds a good deal of your tension? Hence the term agita, which means both anxiety and heartburn or stomach upset. When you relax and consciously go within, even for a few moments, you’ll soon tap into the source of your worry. Then you have a few choices for how to process that. (See below.)Journal out your worries. This is an old trick from the cognitive behavior sleep therapy toolbox. Sit down somewhere other than your bedroom, and write out what you’re worried about. Let your pen flow as your process this and that. You might even discover some new worries and process those as well. It’s a way to ‘think out loud’ on paper and clean house, so your mind can get back to more reassuring inner conversation. This is great to do once you discover the source of your upset in #1 on this list.Take a healing crystal bath. If you tend to relax in the bathtub, consider this. Make it a deeply healing bath by first dumping in a cup or two of Epsom salts. Then try adding some crystals. While some think of crystals as no more than pretty rocks, others find healing crystals to actually be pretty useful. I like to place a few of my favorites on various chakra points, and breathe into them as I let the water unwind me. What I almost always find when I finally emerge is that the bath has supercharged my relaxation. I feel renewed, grounded, clear-minded, and ready for the next thing.Try some slow yoga. Some yoga practices requires us to be up, vigorous and sweaty, while other styles take a slower, more thoughtful approach. I refer specifically to Yin Yoga, Kripalu Yoga and my own personal favorite, Tri-Yoga. These are slow flowing forms of yoga designed to relax us and get us into our own special groove. And boy… does that work. (See my recent blog post on this, What Yoga and Chickens Taught Me About Being Here Now.) It’s worth investing in a yoga mat and a few yoga blocks to pull out as needed.Hug a tree. I know, I know. This sounds a little crazy, but I promise you…it works. My dear pal (and co-host of the Back to Happy podcast) Debi Granger swears by it. She heads out to the yard when she’s feeling off, and takes her shoes off. She walks around on the ground a bit, just to feel that beautiful earth energy. Then she throws her arms around the nearest tree. I’ve tried this as well, and I have to admit. That old tree energy just emits a vibe that says ‘I’m not going anywhere’. And boy, is that reassuring!Have a good cry. When nothing else works, it can be very helpful just to meltdown and have a long sob. Perhaps that is just what you’ve been needing. Did you know that different kinds of tears have different chemical structures? Microscopic views of angry tears literally look different than tears cried from grief or joy. Which tells me the body knows exactly what she’s doing when she urges us to break down and cry. A good cry could be just what your stressed out, frazzled soul has been crying out for. To get started, close the door, lie down in a quiet place and feel into what’s wrong. If you give yourself enough space and time, you’ll get there.Talk to a dear pal. Got a friend out there who knows how to listen and hold space? Who can nod sympathetically and offer a compassionate ‘there there’? Or perhaps you know just the person who will help you talk through different solutions to what is on your mind. Whatever the case may be, talking it out could be just what you need.May these simple ideas soothe you, heal you, and help you come back to YOU.

The post Need to Get Grounded? Here are Seven Good Ways appeared first on Suzanne Falter.