Grounding Rituals and Why They're So Important

So you might be thinking... What are grounding rituals?

You came to the right place, my friend.

Grounding Rituals are are practices the you intentionally incorporate into your daily life to remind you to be in the present moment and have an awareness of your body and surrounding environment. These practices will help you move throughout your day with a sense of more self-control and gratitude.

You may be surprised to learn that science supports the use of grounding rituals. Studies show that practicing them consistently can help calm your nervous system, especially during times of stress when your emotions are heightened. In fact, people who engage in rituals report less anxiety.

There are two important factors that contribute to this feeling of being in control: First, the rituals are chosen by you and provide structure that you personally create; second, the rituals become meaningful over time because they help you connect with yourself, which has a huge impact on your well-being.

You may be thinking that rituals sound a little similar to daily habits, but there’s actually a powerful difference: While both require repetition and structure, rituals are done with intention and purposefully without distraction. When it comes to habits, people tend to engage in them on auto-pilot (e.g., brushing your teeth, getting dressed, even driving to work!) so they don’t always require your full attention—and sometimes they’re an opportunity for you to zone out.

While grounding rituals can lead to moments of joy, it’s important to note that overly ritualistic behavior (which is sometimes linked to a strong need for control) can have a negative impact on your ability to function. This is sometimes observed as symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. In these instances, it’s best to talk to a mental health professional who can guide you to use rituals in healthy ways.

Remember, life is all about balance. Too much of a "good" thing can still become "bad".

Sometimes, if you’re feeling distracted or overwhelmed, it’s because your mind and body aren’t in the same place. In moments of stress, you may naturally think of your past or worry about the future. Committing to a grounding ritual brings you into the present by requiring your full attention. If you’re inspired to start grounding yourself, here are some steps to get you started:

1. Set an intention for yourself: Intentions are about identifying a principle to guide you to a greater purpose. It could sound something like "I will find the small things to be happy today." or "I am grounded in the present moment." or even "I am letting go of anything that does not serve my highest good and the highest good of all."

2. Use your senses to become aware of your current environment: Take a look around and appreciate your surroundings, take a deep breath, close your eyes and listen to the sounds. Say your intention to yourself or outloud.

3. Now create your own relaxing ritual.

Here's some of our ideas:

- Burning Palo Santo

- Taking a Deep Breath in Nature

- Hydration Rituals - Speak Life into your water

- Grace for your food

- Gardening

- Walking Barefoot

- Meditation

- Stretching

- Journaling

- Coloring / Painting