Why Grounding is Key to a Meaningful Life
What’s the big deal about “grounding”?
As you know, I harp about grounding to anyone who will listen. So you might be surprised to hear that for most of my life, I didn't know what the word grounded actually meant, much less how to be grounded.
I had a vague sense being grounded was a good thing (not the kid-in-trouble kind of being grounded), but I couldn’t have articulated a definition of the good kind of “grounded” if pressed.
There is a difference between being grounded and grounding; let’s first look at what it means to be grounded.
Being Ungrounded is Easier to Identify
I’m sure you know people in your life who are not grounded—a tell-tell sign is when you feel anxious just being around their frenetic energy.
Or you might know the feeling of being ungrounded yourself; you may raise your voice or yell unnecessarily.
You can also tell when you're ungrounded because you will walk into a room and can't remember why, or you constantly lose things—think keys, glasses, phone.
I typically drop things when I am ungrounded—dishes, coffee, rice, tomato sauce.
On the other hand, when we are grounded, we feel calm and relaxed. As a result, so do the people around us. When we're grounded, we feel fully present and within our own body. When we’re grounded, the people we communicate with feel seen and heard at a deeper level.
The Myth About Being Grounded
It’s a myth that people are either born grounded or not. It’s not an inherent characteristic; being grounded is something we can nurture.
There are many ways to cultivate being grounded—many are well known such as putting our bare feet into grass, sand, wild water, or dirt. We can also become grounded through breathwork, hiking or camping out in nature, journaling, meditating, or just sitting in silence without distractions.
Now that we have a sense of what it means to be grounded, let’s move on to grounding.
Grounded vs. Grounding: There is a Difference
Grounded is a state of being. Grounding is an energetic technique. When we actively use our grounding, we gain sovereignty over our well-being. We also use grounding for energetic hygiene—to keep our personal energy clean and healthy.
Just like when water is flowing in a river, it’s clean and clear. We can use that water for lots of things like creating electricity, transportation, drinking, swimming, watering plants and animals, cleaning, etc.
When the water gets blocked for whatever reason, it builds up, becomes sullied, and can’t be used for anything. It can even become toxic.
It’s the same with energy. When our personal energy is clear and flowing, we can use it to create things, heal emotional and physical ailments, make decisions, and establish boundaries more easily.
When our energy is “stuck,” however, it builds up, feels clogged, and can also become toxic over time. We get agitated, angry, or depressed more easily.
Grounding is an Active Energetic Tool
Grounding is a simple, yet powerful, energetic technique we can use to keep our energy clear and flowing so we can use our energy more meaningfully.
Actively grounding helps us:
OK this is a long list, but it's just the beginning!
This is the first in my Grounding series so stay tuned for more. If you'd like to learn how to use grounding for your own life, please join the waitlist for our next Grounding & Energy Management class. You’ll get first access when it's open!
This experience was literally one of the most stressful of my life! And that is saying a LOT given I’d already overcome years of infertility trying to get these amazing kids, survived cancer while completing grad school, and moved internationally three times in two years.