I’m grounded and gaining ground – what does it mean?… being grounded is an important skill, but what is it? …
I often write about “feeling grounded” and “gaining ground” – but what do I really mean? And why is being grounded one of the most important inner skills we can learn? Grounding is a therapeutic term meaning a return to the present moment. People talk about “coming back into yourself” such as being aware of your own breath and body, and all your senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. It is the opposite of feeling scattered, anxious, overwhelmed, or feeling out of control. When you are grounded, you are “here” and not drifting into past regrets or future fears. Grounding is not a mood. It is a state of being, of feeling steady, centred, and connected. In psycho-social work, grounding is the feeling of safety. In mental health and trauma-informed practice, grounding has a specific purpose: to help a person return from emotional overwhelm back into a place of safety and regulation. Why does it matter whether you are grounded or not? Therapeutic professionals use grounding to help individuals stay present during difficult conversations, emotional triggers, or heavy memories. Being grounded is not about suppressing emotions, but to ensure that you do not drown in them. Grounding creates a feeling that you can explore your own emotions without being engulfed by them. When we’re overwhelmed, our nervous system goes into survival mode. Grounding reminds our body that it is safe and things will be okay. It helps restore internal balance and clarity. There are many techniques to help us feel grounded. Grounding techniques or rituals include breathing slowly, noticing sensations, tapping parts of your body, listening to natural sounds, being creative, or even placing your hands on a page or object. All these techniques are intentional. Grounding isn’t only a therapeutic tool. It is a life tool and a way to return to your true self in any moment of stress or uncertainty. It helps when you are overwhelmed by some news, emotionally triggered, caught in spiralling thoughts, feeling disconnected from yourself, rushing, multi-tasking, overstimulated, grieving, or adjusting to change. What does being grounded feel like? It is different for different people, depending on the situation. To be grounded is to feel like your thoughts have slowed to the pace of slow breathing instead of hyper-ventilating. It feels like you are in your body rather than hovering above it. You feel as if life situations are “manageable” again. Grounding is not escaping or avoiding. It is often described as “returning to body” or “returning home.” It simply creates the inner stability needed to face difficulties without collapsing under their weight, or by their overwhelming presence. Think of grounding as the earth beneath you: steady enough so that you can walk through anything, and soft enough so that you can rest. I particularly love the phrase “gaining ground” because it suggests progress, strength, and movement forward, even if it is not in big leaps, but in gradual steps. To “gain ground” in your life, in your healing, is to rebuild your relationship with yourself, with your body, your heart, and your breath. Grounding is the first step. Every time you slow down and reconnect with your own breath, you reclaim a little more of yourself. Additional reading for 7 steps to feel grounded on my Rainy Day Healing website: Making my peace … with what it means to be grounded Can’t see the whole article? Want to view the original article? Want to view more articles? Go to Martina’s Substack: The Stories in You and Me More Paris articles are in my Paris website The Paris Residences of James Joyce Rainy Day Healing - gaining ground in life. You're currently a free subscriber to The Stories in You and Me . For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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