Painful feelings often hit us like a tidal wave. They rise up, knock us down and carry us away in the current, pulling us far away from the route we were trying to head down.
Sometimes the best thing we can do in these moments is anchor ourselves down, let the waves come and go without being drawn off-course and wait it out until the waves subside.
Here’s a really quick exercise in how to “drop your anchor” when things feel turbulent.
Take a few seconds to do the following:
Push your feet hard into the floor and straighten your back
As you do this, take a slow, deep breath.
Notice what’s going on in your body. Notice any sensations or tension you might be experiencing.
Notice what’s going on in your mind. Is it racing with thoughts? Worries? What feelings are you noticing?
Notice 5 things you can see around you.
Notice 5 things you can hear.
Bring your attention back to where you are and what you are doing.
Why not give this grounding exercise a try next time you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious.