Life’s frantic pace sometimes propels us so far from ourselves that it feels as though we are observing our own lives from behind a screen, in silence. While our minds flutter in the anxieties of tomorrow or remain suspended in the regrets of yesterday, our bodies are forgotten—right here in this chair, within the cadence of this very breath. Our soul becomes like a kite that has abandoned its frame, tossing aimlessly in the wind.

Is it possible to grasp the string of that drifting kite and guide it back to where it belongs: the earth?

In the world of Somatic Experiencing, we refer to this as Grounding. Yet, it is more than merely standing on the floor; it is a remembrance of the soul’s ancient contract with the body, and the body’s contract with the earth.

The Anchor Forgotten in the Storm

When our nervous system perceives a threat or intense stress, it generates a monumental amount of energy to protect us. It seeks to fight, to flee, or sometimes to "freeze" to wait out the storm. If this energy is not discharged, our system remains on "high alert," as if the storm never truly passed. In those moments, the world feels treacherous, and our own body feels like an alien landscape.

Grounding is the act of releasing that rusty anchor, forgotten in the midst of the gale, into the sea. When that anchor strikes the seabed, the silent yet powerful message sent to the nervous system is this: "The storm may be out there, but you are here. And the ground is holding you."

The Poetry of the Soles

Stop for a moment. There is no need to close your eyes; in fact, keeping them open allowing them to see the world may help you feel safer. Gently invite your attention to the soles of your feet.

Notice the constant, unwavering support the earth offers you. The earth expects nothing from you. It does not weigh you, it does not judge you; it simply holds. The tingling, the warmth, or perhaps just the sensation of pressure on your soles... This is your body’s secret date with gravity. This contact is the most precious evidence your nervous system collects to finally say, "I am safe here."

Observing the World as a Guest

If looking inside the body feels too dark or crowded at times, turn your gaze outward to the world. Notice that green leaf in the room, the coffee cup on the table, or the blue of the sky visible through the window.

This is Orientation. When your mind wanders into the labyrinths of the past, focusing on the color or texture of an object pulls you out of that maze and back into the fresh breath of the present. This method is our most loyal guide, especially in moments when the mind accelerates and we lose touch with the physical self.

Returning to One’s Own Soil

Grounding is more than a technique; it is a compassionate promise you make to yourself. It is the act of inviting yourself back to the earth with a gentle bond every time you feel adrift, every time you say, "I am not here."

Remember: the strongest trees are not those whose branches reach highest toward the heavens, but those whose roots trust the depths of the earth the most. Today, how much will you allow the ground to hold you?

Healing is hidden within the smallest crumbs of relief. Find that crumb and hold onto it.

With love and profound awareness,

Fatma Nur Bilgin