Sole to Soul
~ Caroline Walsh
We've all heard the saying "go touch some grass," and this saying has a lot more meaning and truth than we give it credit for. When our skin comes into direct contact with the Earth, this is called grounding. However, there are other ways to ground that do not involve physical contact with the Earth. Grounding is an overlooked, underused technique that benefits the human body in a variety of ways. Grounding is a practice people can use to reduce stress and anxiety, enabling more creative endeavors. When the mind is flooded with worry, there is no space for creativity to flourish. Through grounding, people can feel deeply connected to themselves and clear their minds to find inspiration. Grounding helps a person live in the present moment and stay in tune with their body. If you allow for it, grounding can have a profoundly positive impact on your life. People who suffer from extreme emotional distress can use grounding as a technique to calm their entire body down, yet its calming effects can be beneficial to anyone. Grounding is a powerful practice that differs from practices such as meditation, because instead of observing thoughts, a person can observe their environment and feel sensations in their body.
Drawing on research by Oschman, Chevalier, and Brown on the effects of grounding on inflammation, the immune system, wound healing, and the prevention of chronic autoimmune diseases, it is abundantly clear what the amazing benefits of physically touching the Earth with your bare feet are. The healing power of the Earth is so strong that it can repair physical wounds at a faster rate than on its own. This article includes scientific findings and images showing grounding's healing properties. It is truly magnificent that, as long as one is physically in contact with Earth, they absorb Earth's rejuvenating energy. One hypothesis the article provides is that connecting the body to the Earth enables electrons from the Earth's surface to spread into and over the body, exerting antioxidant effects (Oschman, Chevalier, & Brown). In addition to its healing effects on the body, grounding can improve sleep. When grounding reduces pain and stress levels, it inevitably improves sleep quality. During a grounded sleep study, people suffering from chronic pain began to sleep "grounded" with the hopes of improving their sleep, and it did just that. The way they "grounded" subjects during sleep was through a cotton sheet with conductive carbon or silver woven through, which led to a wire connecting to a metal rod inserted directly into the Earth or next to a plant. The findings show changes in sleep, pain, and stress levels as reported by subjects. The findings in this article provide evidence of Earth's remarkable healing properties, offering scientific reasons to go outside and embrace nature.
Scientifically, the Earth can heal the body, and grounding can also quiet the mind. It is extremely useful to have tools that help you get out of your head, especially for creators who often lose sight of their vision due to others' opinions or turbulent emotions. In a blog titled Grounding Techniques by Carolyn Mehlomakulu, she describes some of the benefits of grounding, along with different techniques that can be used anywhere. When a person is suddenly overwhelmed with emotions, it is helpful to return to the body and the present moment. Sometimes it is difficult to ground into the physical Earth, especially in certain locations due to weather. So when it comes to grounding, going out to feel the Earth between your toes is not the only way to get acclimated to the environment around you and get out of your head. Incorporating grounding into your life can help you have better control over your emotions. Grounding is also a unique technique because it is different from meditation. Instead of sitting with your thoughts, grounding takes you into the environment around you to calm your body when you experience distressing thoughts. The blog author lists a few grounding techniques, and I want to list them below in case anyone wants to try them. The techniques she gives are extremely simple yet effective.
Finding the rainbow means looking around your environment and identifying different objects for each color.
5 senses of 54321, which is when you describe 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.
Scan your body, starting at your toes and moving up, noticing what each body part feels.
Find 5 circles and 5 squares in your surroundings.
Name a category and list as many things as you can think of (cities, plants, animals)
Find something to read backward.
Simply describe your environment.
Repeat a safety affirmation such as "I am in my warm bed right now, and I am safe."
Use a sensation to focus on the present moment, such as ice on the wrist.
Recite your favorite song or poem to yourself.
All of these techniques are very basic, yet you can do them anywhere, anytime, when you suddenly feel overwhelmed. For creators, it is vital to have a variety of outlets and tools to achieve the best creative output. No one can make something they are proud of or allow ideas to flow when the mind is cluttered with anxieties from the day. Before entering a state of creative flow, the creator must create a space in their mind and connect with the physical world to get the most out of their art.
Grounding is extremely valuable, and until you start practicing for yourself, you cannot know what it feels like to experience all its benefits. In an article titled "The Value of Grounding," the author Lexi discusses kinesiology treatments and their benefits for mental well-being. One act of treatment is grounding. Physically touching the ground with your bare feet is what can scientifically be referred to as earthing. Earthing is when your naked feet are touching solid ground, whether that be mud, sand, grass, concrete, or stones. So next time you come across a surface that looks extra appealing to bare feet, strip off your socks and shoes, and don't pass up the opportunity. It is so freeing, letting the soles of your feet feel the earthy surface, focusing on the feet and the feelings throughout your body as it is directly connected to the Earth (Lexi). It is easy to become ungrounded due to day-to-day experiences surrounded by people and things that can completely disrupt a person's internal balance. Kinesiology treatments can recenter a person, and grounding is one of the most powerful and accessible of these treatments. When people are ungrounded, they may feel as if all their energy is locked up in their minds, or as if they are in a never-ending loop of thoughts. Being ungrounded can also look like feeling scattered, foggy, having trouble focusing, and making decisions. People may also feel easily overwhelmed, drained, or exhausted. Everyone inevitably feels these feelings, so knowing about grounding is great for reconnecting with yourself and the moment to settle your energy (Lexi). As mentioned previously, there are a variety of techniques one can use to ground themselves in moments of distress that do not involve physically touching the ground. Yet, if you can, you should go out there and try earthing, and be mindful of all the benefits you are gaining from soaking up the Earth.
I recently discovered the importance of grounding and the different ways I can incorporate it into my daily life. I spend a lot of time in my head, and for those moments when I am only thinking about my surroundings, I feel at peace. I never knew there was a way for me to create that feeling for myself whenever I want, especially when I am overthinking and getting caught up in mind traps. When my mind finds one thing to obsess over and refuses to let it go, I find myself forcing myself to go for a walk so I can engage my senses. I wanted to share my findings from these few articles I read while learning more about grounding. There are so many ways for people to incorporate small practices into their lives that help them find peace and space to pursue what matters most to them. I love finding simple ways to improve my life, and grounding can help people be more in tune with their minds, bodies, and environments, allowing them to align with the highest version of themselves. Make sure to look for signs of overthinking and ungrounding, and try some of the simple techniques here to see if they truly work. It may seem obvious to ground ourselves, yet it is easily forgotten. I can attest that when my bare feet touch grass, sand, or stones, my mind instantly feels lighter. Too much of our lives is filled with noise and chaos, which is why I strive to find simple exercises that bring clarity and ease to the mind, so I can show up for myself and others and create abundantly.
