The world news has been far from stabilizing. We’ve been rocked multiple times in the last few months. It hasn’t been about sports, weather, a career, a healthy diet, an exercise program, or likes on social media.
No, on a scale from one to ten we’ve teetered in the ten area for an extended period of time, rocking and rolling as we grapple with the life and death situations of a global pandemic.
And that’s only part of the picture.
We are in the perfect storm with political discord, racial and gender inequality, failing businesses, and last in my list but hardly least is the welfare of our little ones’ health and education—all on the front burner, all at the same time!
What support are people reaching for during these times? A short answer is stillness, quiet, space— to find strength and clarity. We all need some balance to negotiate the risks, discord, and fear that is pervading our beings.
Recently, one of my more lighthearted clients was seriously in need of feeling and being grounded. There were way too many thoughts and challenges rocking her world. Each area of her life was affected, and she needed a sense of calm.
We loved playing with the word discombobulated to define this feeling of being unsafe, unsettled, and therefore too confused to find her best direction. And as she became more grounded, we referred to her calm state as being combobulated. Now, is that even a word? We didn’t care, we just wanted to get to where she needed to be, and to have a fun word to use along the way!
And actually, combobulate is a word, and a good one for grounding. It means to put together in a somewhat mysterious manner; to bring something out of a state of confusion or disarray.
Grounding is a recharging, stabilizing energy. Feeling stable allows for an inquisitive and open mind with the desired side effects of self-esteem and confidence. It creates a safe space for you to question thoughts, perhaps change direction if it makes sense to do so.
When you are enjoying yourself, chances are you are grounded. When you are in the zone, doing what you do best, again, you are grounded. But, what about when you are confused, ramped up, and fear is getting the best of you?
That is the time to consciously and systematically pull your grounding rituals out to play. These can include:
Use your five senses as much as possible. Be cognizant of what you see, hear, feel, taste, touch. Being aware of our senses is stabilizing and gives us that “safe, back-to-earth feeling!”
Eventually, the life scale will come down from ten. Grounding is a great tool to employ while we wait.