REFRESH THE SOUL

Quick! Name Three of Your Favorite Things

How Do They Help You Stay Spiritually Grounded?

You might very well be able to name 10 favorite things, but what rises to the top three spots? And why am I even asking you this?!

In a society and time when so many distractions can pull you into frustration and chaos, it’s good to know which of your three favorite things can quickly ground you. I have learned the powerful benefit of aromas. Sometimes I will grab an essential oil and take a quick whiff or a long whiff, depending on how off-balance I’ve become.

Or sometimes I grab my favorite, smooth rock. I don’t need to do anything with the rock. Just holding it eminds of the day I walked on the beach and found that rock, which draws me into a moment of pause.

But, if I’m being honest, my three favorite things are:

1. A cup of hot tea

2. Being on an airplane

3. Doing something creative (writing, painting, or making tea blends)

In a sense, any of those three favorite things invite me into a space of quiet and meditation. I am welcomed into my spiritual grounding, connecting me to my body, mind, and soul.

Here is a list of potential signs you’re ungrounded:

• Over thinking
• Experiencing insomnia
• Incurring anxiety / worry
• Spacing out
• Becoming easily distracted
• Engaging in personal drama / gossip

Here are ways to help you move into a place of spiritual grounding:

1. Meditation Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles has a lovely set of meditations.

2. Get out into nature. It has been proven that spending time in nature. There is a direct correlation between your dopamine levels, your brain and being spiritually grounded.

3. Deep Breathing. When you close your eyes, put one hand on your heart and one hand on your diaphragm and take a deep breath in through your nose, counting to eight. Hold the breath for four counts, and exhale through your mouth for eight counts, allowing your diaphragm to completely concave. Do this several times.

4. Music Therapy. Put on some music and take a moment to listen. If you are a singer or musician, sing a song or go to your instrument and play.

5. Contemplative Prayer. This is similar to meditation. Get into a comfortable seated position. Close your eyes and choose a word or phrase that will help your mind quiet down. Quietly repeat that word or phrase over and over until your mind quiets down. Allow yourself to be quiet, concentrating on the goodness in your life and invite the Holy Spirit to lead you. I will sometimes grab my rock, allowing myself to concentrate on the rock and let everything else go.

6. Yoga. This ancient Indian practice has been studied and shows positive health effects as well as being beneficial for overall mental health.

7. Read. Grab your favorite book or a current book you’re reading, grab a cup of tea and relax into the author’s words. Allow the book to carry you away.

8. Earthing. Don’t laugh. It is a way to connect with the earth, so you become spiritually grounded to the earth.

• put your hands in dirt — think potting soil or get out to a farm and allow your hands to get dirty
• walk barefoot in the grass or lay in the grass. Even better if it’s an especially sunny day.
• swim in the ocean or lake
• hug a tree
• sleep on the earth while camping

Reflection Questions:

1. When you are stressed, what do you normally do to de-stress in a healthy way? Is it working?
2. Make a list of ten of your favorite things. Don’t think too much, just write the list out. Then go back through the list and rate them from 1 to 10, 1 being the highest.
3. Of the top three items, are any or all of them potentially portable? In other words, is one of them small and tangible like my favorite rock. We aren’t always in places where we can stop and do yoga or meditate or pull out a book and read, so reaching for something that is soothing can be a wonderful alternative.

May your soul be refreshed.

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