I come from a beach town called Margate in the south of England. Whenever I am by the beach, I have a strong urge to take my shoes off and walk barefoot in the sand. There’s something in me that wants to connect, feel the sand between my toes and I feel more centered. I walk away feeling grounded.
What does being grounded mean? It means being present, not thinking about the past or the future. You feel connected to your body. When you are grounded, you feel more “down to earth” and less up in the clouds.
I believe that instinctively we know what we need to do to ground. Many people feel the need to be in nature. To walk barefoot on grass, to feel soil between your fingers or to swim in lakes. Some prefer to physically move their body with exercise or dance. Perhaps you prefer meditating, having a hot bath or sitting in silence.
What I think is important is taking time out for yourself. I have worked with so many clients that need reminding of this. It’s not really a “nice to have”, it’s a “must have”. When you take time to look after yourself, to listen to yourself and your needs, you will know what you need to do. You’ll be drawn to what is right for you.
What do you do to look after yourself? What do you do to ground?