Regain Your Balance

(gentle tones ringing) Headspeace Studios Hi everyone, it's Sam. Welcome to Radio Headspace and to Monday. So as a meditation teacher, I often use the word grounded to describe a relaxed, stable, and present state of mind. Groundedness may mean something different to you but I think it's a term that we can all relate to in some way. I feel grounded when I'm engaged in work that I love and with people who allow me to be myself. Take a moment to think about times when you feel most grounded. For most of us groundedness is a state that waxes and wanes. So I wanna unpack what it means to be grounded and explore how we can return to groundedness when we feel off kilter. Brad Stulberg wrote a book called "The Practice of Groundedness" and in it, he outlines five principles of groundedness that I would love to share with you. The first principle is about accepting our current reality and when we accept things just as they are, we're able to find some level of peace. Letting go of the resistance that's adding to our displeasure. The second principle involves patience and patience is a state of mind that can be pretty difficult to access. It can feel like a finite resource that we have to muster more often than we want to. And I think we have a tendency of forcing ourselves into patience as adults, knowing that that's what's expected of us. But there's a gentler way into patience. We can first take a deep breath and reorient to what's available to us in the present moment. When we do this, we're reminding ourselves to live for now instead of dwelling on what we hope will come later. The third principle is embracing vulnerability. And when we're honest with ourselves and others about our imperfections, a huge weight could be lifted. We no longer feel like we have to hide parts of ourselves that we think will elicit judgment or disdain. The fourth principle is to surround yourself with a supportive community. We need people in community and taking care of others and letting others take care of us, grounds us. And it's a primal aspect of our safety and survival. The last principle is pretty straightforward. Keep your body moving. So true. This reminds me of something a Buddhist teacher said once, that any problem can be solved by walking. And it's helpful to remind ourselves that taking a walk can help us recalibrate, help us find solutions when we're stuck, and even improve our memory over time. Before we end for today, let's take a moment to ground ourselves, right where we are. So go ahead and take a slow deep breath in and out through your nose. And then see if you could notice and bring acceptance to any thoughts, any feelings, or any sensations that are present right now. Just allowing your mental and physical state to be just as it...