In times of crisis and chaos, like right now, so much lies beyond our control. But we always have control over at least one thing. That is our own reaction to what’s happening. When we choose to find our grounding in the midst of crisis and chaos, we empower ourselves. We free up mental space, so we can think more clearly. This enables us to act in alignment with our inner strength and wisdom, so we can make the best possible decisions for our loved ones and ourselves.
If you want to know how to stay grounded, you first need to establish what it means to be grounded. Being grounded means you’re connected to your calm, steady center. It’s trusting in your ability to survive; even when what’s happening in your life feels like it’s threatening to overwhelm you. I think of it as having deep, strong roots to anchor me – like a giant oak tree. Even when the winds blow hard and my limbs swoop and sway, my core remains unmovable.
But being grounded means we don’t give in to the chaos. Instead, we make a conscious choice to return to, or find, our inner source for courage, trust, and resilience. We choose again and again to return to a more grounded perspective.
One of the best ways to stay grounded is to shift what’s happening for you energetically in your body. There are two reasons for this. The first is we experience anxiety and fear acutely in the body. That’s why we often use the term nervous energy when talking about these emotional states. When we’re feeling anxiety and fear, the nerves in our body are frazzled and charged. If the emotional charge is high enough, we may also feel elevated heart rate, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, trembling, and other physical manifestations. Fear, anxiety, and stress live in the body.
The five elements in feng shui are utilized to bring balance and harmony so here are ways to stay grounded using those elements:
- Earth: physically in our bodies, earth represents our bones, skin, and hair, so stand barefoot on the earth every single day, get a facial, which is wonderful for your skin, and get a haircut.
- Water: saliva, urine, semen, blood, sweat, and our kidneys. So drink a lot of water, or go into the water, work out sweat, and have sex.
- Fire: Hunger, sleep, and our heart. So fast one day a week, get a good night’s sleep, and love and be loved.
- Metal: which is air and is our lungs so take deep breaths throughout the day.
- Wood: Liver and gall bladder so give your liver a break and don’t drink alcohol. Stand under a tree and feel the unwavering strength of that tree.
Have any Feng Shui questions? Feel free to contact me at michelle@michellecromer.com and sign up for your Power Color or visit me on Facebook at Michelle Cromer Feng Shui.
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I wrote this blog 7 years ago, a month before I found out I had cancer in my face, and before all the reconstructive surgeries that followed. I am convinced this practice helped me heal and it is now a part of my spiritual and healing discipline. I encourage all of you to simply take your shoes off and walk barefoot on grass, dirt, a beach, and Mother Earth.
Our shoes distort our bodies’ feelings and function and also disconnect us from the earth. We don’t think about this, working in our offices behind non-opening windows, perched high above the earth on steel encased in concrete. We sleep and move in climate-controlled homes and vehicles where we have to look at an instrument to know the temperature outside. Our lifestyle is more like life in submarines or spaceships than on Mother Nature, it seems. Conversely, there’s something primal, damp, sensual, and connective about walking on the earth. Something of mystery. This is the thing I love about it: it redirects my abstract concerns. It plugs my attention into something much greater and more live-giving than the ridiculous flock of worries my mind generates.