How To Recenter.
In the busy-ness of daily life, it is easy to loose yourself. To get swept away in interactions, to-do lists, conversations. Many of us are constantly living either in the past or the future, missing out on the purest of pleasures - the present moment. Below are some simple steps to bring you back to the present. To allow yourself to come back to your body. To reground and recenter in moments of feeling triggered or overwhelmed.
Art by Mint Tea (Instagram - @mintteaphoto)
Cover Art by Vilma (Instagram - @mateatme)
8 Steps to Recenter your Energy.
Take 5 rounds of deep belly breaths.
Breath is one of the simplest and most powerful tools to recenter your energy. Find a space to sit in silence - a park bench, a bathroom cubicle, your car - and close your eyes. Breath deeply into your belly, breathing in for 4 seconds, holding the breath for 7 seconds, and exhaling for 8 seconds. Repeat this at least 5 times, or however may you need.
Do a meditation.
Meditation is a powerful tool to bring you out of the mind, and into the body. Put in some headphones, find a quiet spot, and drop into your body. You can use Youtube, or listen to a recorded meditation by your favourite meditation teacher. One of my favourite meditations to do when I feel scattered and overwhelmed is the Recenter Meditation. A little gift from me to you, click here to download it and receive lifetime access to this grounding audio. I recommend having it on your phone so you can do it anytime.
Bring your awareness to your feet.
Your feet are the points of contact between you and the Earth. They are rooting you into the Earth. When you place your bare feet on the Earth, you are able to absorb the energies through your feet. Just by shifting your awareness to the soles of your feet, you are reminding your body of the fact that you are grounded and connected to that field. If you can, take off your shoes and do this barefoot. If not, just feel the sensation of the bottoms of your feet being met by the ground. This is one of the quickest ways to bring you back to your body.
Connect with nature.
The Earth is our greatest healer, nature the most potent medicine. When you feel ungrounded or overwhelmed, get outside. Get to a park, the ocean, the mountains. Place your hands on a tree, plant your bare feet in the Earth. Breathe deeply. Look around. Take a deep breath. Sigh out loud. Smell the beautiful scents of whatever is around you.
Move your body for 5 minutes.
Movement is medicine. Whenever I feel overwhelmed or emotionally triggered, I will jump up and start shaking my body, or if I am able to put on some music, I will dance for 5 minutes. Take deep breaths while you do this. Sigh deeply. Make sounds if that feels good for you. If you are not in a place to do this, go for a mini walk around the office, the restaurant, or wherever you are. Getting up and moving helps the energy that is getting trapped to move. While you move focus on opening your chest, as a lot of energy will get stuck around the heart space and throat.
Shift your focus to something new.
Sometimes ruminating on whatever if happening will not make it better. Sometimes all you need is a shift in focus to bring you back to your body and out of your head. This will allow you to act with more clarity later on. Call a friend, go and chat to a colleague, look out the window, put on a song, read a book. Whatever it is that makes you feel good.
Complete a small, simple task.
The little hit of dopamine you get from completing a small task can make a world of difference when you are feeling stuck or overwhelmed. Get up and go for a walk. Make a cup of tea (avoid coffee if your nervous system is already hyper-aroused from emotional stress). Reply to a message or an email. Go to the bathroom. Take 5 deep breaths. Make a healthy snack. Whatever it is that will help you move out of rumination and into a space of feeling accomplished.
Get still and focus on your senses.
Your senses are your doorway into the present moment. They bring you back to the here and now. Find a moment to sit in stillness. Notice your breath. Become aware of the air on your skin. Notice the taste in your mouth. Become aware of any sounds around you. Notice the smells. Look around, what do you see? Immerse yourself in the sensations of the present moment, and you will come home to your body.
Coming home to the body takes awareness, and practice. Pick one of the steps above and integrate it into your day-day life. Once you feel comfortable working with one, bring in another. Keep building in this way. Over time, these practices will become habits.
If this post resonated with you, share it with a friend, or pop me an email sharing any thoughts you may have. I would love to hear about the tools that help you, so please don’t feel shy to reach out, and share your thoughts on this post.
All love
x
