24/7 Hotlines: Call or text 988 or text 741741
I googled what “grounded ” meant and google says “well balanced and sensible.”
Somebody asked me yesterday what keeps me grounded and I answered “love”. With some more thought, I came up with this.
– Love
– breathing
– Working
– exercise
– music
What keeps you grounded?
TurningPointCT.org was developed by young people in Connecticut who are in recovery from mental health and substance use issues. We know what it’s like to feel alone, stressed, worried, sad, and angry. We’ve lived through the ups and downs of self-harm, drugs and alcohol, and the struggle to find help.
Learn More »
© 2024 TurningPointCT.org. All Rights Reserved.
I agree with all of your reasons! Definitely love, breathing, and working help ground me daily. Also, I think hope keeps me grounded everyday. Hope that something amazing will happen today. Hope that today will be special. Hope that today will be one of my best days ever. Hope that I get everything done and done well.
Torry,
I love your list of things that keep you grounded. For me, things that help me maintain grounded are:
-Cool air and cold temperatures
-Working
-Coloring or artwork/ art projects
-Playing sports
-Music
-Cooking
-Being held tightly like a hug, etc.
I love all of these!
I’ve recently been introduced to the art of mindful meditation. I’ve only done it a couple of times, but every time I have done it it has been excellent! My therapist suggested I try it after I mentioned to her that I was becoming very anxious every time I would try to fall asleep and during the night time. While regular meditation allows space for your mind to roam around freely, sometimes causing anxiety because you are not directly focused on one thing, mindful meditation immerses you in another environment that you are completely comfortable in all while allowing you to gain relaxation so you can get to sleep or start your day refreshed! Here’s how it works:
You get in a comfortable position, and choose to either close your eyes or lower your gaze-(if trying to go to sleep, it’s preferable to close your eyes). Next, imagine your safe zone, somewhere that you have been, have always wanted to be-(your grandmother’s house, the beach, a baseball game, etc.)
Once you know where your comfort/safety place is, you will begin your journey. You start your journey at the top of a set of 10 steps. As you go down each step, maintain a rhythm of regular, semi-deep but comfortable breathing. Slowly go down each step one by one, and don’t go down to the next one until you are ready. (often times on each step I like to briefly think about what I am leaving behind at that step, knowing that what I am leaving there cannot follow me once I reach the bottom) Once you reach the bottom, use as many sensory tools as you possibly can while in your safe place. For example, if you are at your grandmother’s house in her kitchen, for example, think about the smell of her homemade cookies, perhaps, a cool breeze you may feel as you sit on her porch, her tight squeeze as she hugs you when she greets you. By including many sensory details in your experience, you allow your mindful meditation to be more deep and effective because you are further immersed within your safe place.
There is only one rule to this mindful meditation- YOU NEVER GO BACK UP THE STAIRS! Once you are ready to leave your safe place, say goodbye as you deem appropriate and slowly use gentle movements to reintegrate your body back to the present. By not going back up the stairs, every time you enter your safe place, it is one step closer to permanently leaving those negative things behind.
My list:
-Finding the right music to listen to in the right moment
-Being confident and fearless no matter the situation
-Getting enough rest
-Doing the things I plan to do
-Eating healthy
Hi Kevin,
Great list! These are very important!