Meditations for Grounding

Meditation is a delicate art that works perfectly one way for someone, and completely differently for others. Over the past few years, to help me meditate and get reacquainted with myself, I read several self-help books that I believe have helped me find that balance.

Over the course of this article I will like to share three books and their methods of meditation for regrounding.

Disclaimer: Meditation methods are different for everyone. Please use this article as a stepping stone or a guideline to help you get better acquainted with what method works best. Be patient, kind, and playful. Take it all as learning techniques. Listen to your body and their needs. And remember some days specific exercises will work, other days, not so much.

MEDITATION: THE FIRST AND LAST FREEDOM | Osho

As Osho explains in the book, we need to begin with effort. In the beginning meditation won’t come easy, we’ll be constantly thinking and thinking about stopping our thoughts. And that is very much doing, or the opposite of what meditation is supposed to be.

So, Osho leads with an exercise to help still the mind: every breath you count is a number up to 10. That means breathe in one breathe out two breathe in 3 and so on. Once at 10, count backwards so it’d be breathe in ten breathe out nine. And just keep repeating this exercise as you settle into your breathing. The point is to focus solely on your breathing, and your body’s movement as you breathe.

If you notice you’ve passed ten, do no panic, and count backwards from that number. Again, the point is to be grounded in your breath.

This technique is perfect for beginners who are looking for somewhere to begin their journey into meditation.

YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE | Louise L. Hay

What I love about this book is that Hay reminds us to create a daily routine filled with meditation. Remember, I mentioned that meditation is something we can always do, it does not need to be sitting in stillness only. And Hay emphasis exactly that.

Focusing on a routine within itself can be very fulfilling, when adding: “expressing gratitude, writing affirmations, […] and enjoying exercise” (Hay, 1988, p. 88) adds an extra layer of self-fulfillment.

Let’s start with Expressing Gratitude:

Take five minutes out of your day to write five things that you are grateful for that happened throughout your day.

As I mentioned in a TikTok video when feeling overwhelmed, and noticing that things aren’t going your way, be honest with yourself, and focus on mini achievements that you managed to accomplish throughout your day. Your gratitude list could be as silly as I am grateful for my bed or as deep as I am grateful for my personal growth and myself-patience. It does not matter as long as you’re honest with yourself.

Then there’s the Writing Affirmations. Although Hay focuses on writing affirmations, you can sing them, speak them aloud, write them or do whatever you are comfortable with doing. The point is to help reinforce positive thoughts such as:

“In the infinity of life where I am, all is perfect, whole and complete. I support myself, and life supports me. I see evidence of The Law working all around me and in every area of my life. I reinforce that which I learn in joyous ways. My day begins with gratitude and joy. I look forward with enthusiasm to the adventures of the day, knowing that in my life, ‘All is good.’ I love who I am and all that I do. I am the living, joyous expression of life. All is well in my world.” Louise Hay (p.94).

Again, when working with affirmations you are constantly reinforcing your learning, and as I mentioned at the beginning of this article, meditation is a learning experience. Find what works for you to reinforce your learning.

Lastly there is Enjoying Exercise. Exercise is not only going to the gym, creating and strictly following an exercise regime that you need to follow. Exercise could be very much moving your body for 10 minutes a day (even if that’s all you feel you can do). But when you do move your body gently re-affirm with yourself: I am moving my body because I love my body. I am proud of what my body can accomplish and where it has taken me in my life. When you show your body and yourself this kind of love, you will slowly but surely be reminded of your full potential.

As my meditation journey continues, I would love to explore Pranic Psychotherapy and Pranic Healing both by Master Choa Kok Sui. In the meantime, for the beginners or lost souls out there, I hope this article, at least to some extent, has helped you reground yourself in meditation.

References

Hay, L. L. (1988). You Can Heal Your Life. Great Britain: The Guernsey Press.

Raineesh, O. (2004). Meditation: The first and last freedom. Cologne, W. Germany: Rebel Pub. House.