How to Get Yourself Grounded and How It Can Help You

You may have heard the wellness term “grounded” being thrown around as it relates to wellness and wonder what all the hype was about. I have recently been getting more and more into natural, therapeutic ways to feel good and I want to share with you how grounding can be a tool in your wellness toolbox.

What is grounding?

Grounding in relationship to wellness refers to being in conductive contact with the earth’s subtle, natural energy for the purpose of rebalancing our mind, body, and spirit.

Feeling grounded means that you are physically or emotionally connected with the earth and present in your body. When grounded, you allow yourself to feel centered and balanced no matter what’s going on around you.

Where does the term “grounded” come from?

There are few different definitions for grounding, sometimes also referred to as earthing. Although I feel they all relate to each other, let’s start with the most scientific version.

Scientifically, grounding means connected (as in an electrical device) with the earth (ground); a grounding wire gives an electrical device a safe way to discharge excess electricity. The earth is an electrical body with a virtually infinite state of neutrality, so it makes the perfect connection for energetic “runoff”.

Of course, you may be more familiar with the more popular connotation for a person being grounded, meaning he or she is stable, well-balanced, and sensible.

And then, there is the grounded I’m referring to. It’s being able to reorient our focus, emotions and intentions to the present moment and simultaneously releasing the tension of worry, grudges, expectations, fear, and stress. It means deepening and grounding into the earth with a feeling of stability and balance, returning to your natural state of mind, body, and spiritual balance.

Grounding and centering mean we are introspective and have in balance the many parts of us that make us – us.

Grounding isn’t new

Many ancient peoples believed in the power of grounding to the earth. There are references to grounding being used for wellness by the Egyptians, Native American Indians, the Mayans, and Indigenous Australians.

And here’s why it may deserve our attention: There is growing research and evidence being published in peer-reviewed journals that support the benefits of grounding practices resulting in positive outcomes related to:

• Better sleep
• Improved blood circulation
• Reduced stress
• Enhanced immune support
• Reduced inflammation
• Improved mood

“Emerging scientific research supports the concept that the Earth’s electrons induce multiple physiological changes of clinical significance, including reduced pain, better sleep, and a blood-thinning effect.” – National Institute of Health

Keep an open mind

You want to feel better? (Who doesn’t?!) Then as the saying goes, seek and you shall find.

I found many wellness gurus that consistently incorporate the practice of grounding in their teachings. And grounding is a part of many long-standing mind, body, spirit practices including Ayurveda and yoga.

Numerous studies have been conducted on this subject and their corresponding full text results can be found online if you’re interested in digging deeper into evidence.

“Research has shown barefoot contact with the earth can produce nearly instant changes in a variety of physiological measures, helping improve sleep, reduce pain, decrease muscle tension and lower stress. One reason direct physical contact with the ground might have beneficial physiological effects is the earth’s surface has a negative charge and is constantly generating electrons that could neutralize free radicals, acting as antioxidants.” – washingtonpost.com

But let’s go beyond the research, statistics, and studies – what could it hurt to give it a try and see for yourself?

Shoot, if laying on the grass or stepping barefoot on the soil could help lift your mind, soothe your spirit or physically relieve something inflamed or unbalanced in your body – why wouldn’t you give it a try?!

Exactly! (high-fives in the air!) So, I have. And I can tell you that for me, it has consistently, at the very least, improved my mood. And at the very most, given me amazing moments of comfort, clarity, and a sense of over-all well-being.

“Scientific research over more than a decade indicates that your body can be protected and helped—and that you feel better—when you electrically reconnect to the Earth. That is, when you are grounded.” – chopra.com

How to give grounding a try for yourself

These are common suggestions for giving grounding a try. Some are literal, physical contact with the earth, some are less so, but the concept remains the same.

• Being barefoot – go barefoot outdoors when you can. Sit, stand, or walk on grass, sand, soil, concrete. Five minutes – thirty minutes… whatever you’ve got.
• Palms of your hands – lay your hands on the grass, sand, dirt, trees, rocks and be in touch with the grounding energy.
• Lying on the ground – increasing skin-to-earth contact by laying down on the grass, the sand, smooth rocks… connect yourself to earth’s subtle neutralizing energy.
• Ground in water – get in a body of water. The ocean, a stream, a lake, your bathtub, a shower, a foot tub.
• Grounding devices – I’m not familiar with using any of these nor how they work, but they are gaining in popularity. You can shop for a variety of grounding mats, blankets, socks, sheets and the like online.

Grounded in nature

Nature, in general, has long been known to provide soothing comfort and positive feelings.

There is something balancing and soothing about connecting with nature. Sometimes, even just gazing at a picture, painting or video of nature is emotionally stress-releasing. Watching water flow down a stream, observing the ebb and flow of the ocean lapping at the shore, seeing leaves twirl and spin on their downward drift from branch to ground.

Consider how you feel inside when you catch a sunrise or see the sun setting. When you look at a beautiful flower and take a mindful moment to consider its color, scent, texture, shape, and natural perfection. The sight of a clear blue sky, the brilliant colors of fall leaves, the brilliant shine of ice on tree branches.

Even aside from the desire to ground ourselves, there is a blissful serenity to soak in through connecting and appreciating the beauty and magic of nature. Nature invites us to be mindful, more fully present in the moment, and that mindfulness is always a calming, restorative practice.

Getting grounded in an urban environment

It can be easy to feel ungrounded in an urban setting. The volume of people, noises, buildings, and more compact living spaces, although energetically exciting, can make you feel scattered, disconnected, and unbalanced. Reconnecting to the earth and its subtle neutrality can naturally help reduce stress and restore a sense of calm connection.

“Think of a tree with roots going deep into the earth — when we feel grounded, we can grow and live from a place of stability. We can weather storms with more ease.” – Gabby Bernstein

Most cities have beautiful park areas with grass and trees to touch.  If that’s not possible, some ways to introduce grounding practices when you can’t get out into nature can include using grounding essential oils like sandalwood or myrrh on your pulse points. Eating grounding foods is said to rebalance and bring us closer to the earth.

According to Ayurvedic practices, adding foods that grow in the ground to your diet, i.e. carrots, parsnips, garlic, sweet potatoes, beets, or radishes – can be grounding to consume and can help connect you to the earth and the energy around you.

“We need to root our physical body into the earth and reconnect to what is happening around us rather than what is happening in the mind.” – mindbodygreen.com

Can’t get outside? A morning look up and out of your window at the sky. An evening gaze up at the stars. Cultivating indoor herbs and/or window plants can also bring a connectedness to soil and art and invite a sense of energetic peace and balance.

Alternative grounding methods

For those who want instant access to that grounded sense, wherever and whenever you need to feel more balanced and centered, there are grounding meditations and visualizations techniques that can help you create a similar experience.  You can find many options online or email me and I’ll send you an audio grounding meditation to try!

Feelin’ good, like you should

Life is meant to be experienced, lived fully, and enjoyed. Some days are good, some are bad. If you can give yourself the benefit of being open and trying out different tools to add to your wellness toolbox, you can tap into uncovering what brings you more.

More joy, more healing, more love, more life, more healthy, more feelin’ good! Lighten up. Step in the yummy, healing flow of self-care.

When you feel off-balance and overwhelmed, give grounding a try and be open to feeling better. Let me know how it goes! – Marlene

Looking to dig deeper into how to use journaling to reduce anxiety and feel better? Check out Journal to Joy, my self-paced online course designed to show you exactly how to journal for the greatest emotional transformation (in just 10-minutes a day!) – Details here.

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