Grounded vs. Centered
Upon first glance, the phrase, being grounded in Nature appears to be redundant and in dire need of editing; however, Dr. Diana Raab (2017) differentiated between being grounded versus being centered, and further proposed the possibility of individuals being both grounded and centered. A sense of calm appears to be associated with the two terms, but they are not synonymous although they do often tend to accompany each other. Being grounded is defined as having the ability to remain completely aware and conscious within the present time, or it is defined as practicing mindfulness where “what-ifs” are rarely entertained. The author, Michael Daniels (2005), describes groundedness as the sense of being completely embodied and whole within oneself that is accompanied by feelings of harmony, clarity, and ‘rightness.’ A person who is grounded has total control of his or her mental and emotional state where he or she is not easily impacted by others, their ideas, comments, etc. which allows inconsequential mishaps to roll off his or her back like water rolls off of a duck, so there is much less of an inclination to become reactive or overwhelmed by something or someone. In the event that there is a situation where a typically grounded individual does feel “off balance,” there are several strategies that can be used to re-establish the grounded status quo:
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Focusing one’s attention on breathing; meditating while walking
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Playing instrumental music without the distraction of words
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Practicing reflective listening
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Sipping a hot beverage, such as tea, being aware of its warmth and taste
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Engaging in multi-sensory awareness, which can become an entry in a journal to reinforce the experience
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Giving non-human family members one’s full and undivided attention to show them love and appreciation
In contrast, being centered is defined as having a reference point which can be a place to which an individual can return when life becomes especially challenging and stressful. The center to which an individual must return can be represented by the medicine wheel that is often referenced in Native American culture where each of the four directions representing the physical world is joined in the center of the wheel. The north direction represents the mind while the south direction represents the heart; the east direction represents the spirit, and the west direction represents the body, so to maintain a sense of balance or well-being in body, mind, and spirit, all four directions must be in sync. Focused breathing is a strategy that enables an individual to return or his or her center just as it facilitates returning to groundedness (Raab, 2017), but in addition, Roshi (2017) also suggested three of the tenets related to the practice of Zen which are: “Not knowing, bearing witness, and taking action” (p. 3). The first of these three tenets, not knowing, involves letting go especially during turbulent circumstances or situations; the second tenet, bearing witness, involves acknowledging or being mindful of the earth’s joy and suffering; and the third tenet, taking action, involves being one with the intention so that the best action will be taken for any given situation. According to Buddhist meditation, bearing witness (tenet two) is spontaneous and concerns being aware of thoughts and feelings as they arise, but allowing them to pass by in cloudlike fashion. Similarly, taking action (tenet three) is also unpredictable but should always be caring and considerate for oneself as well as for anybody else who is involved. Gaining a basic comprehension of being grounded and centered when coupled with some simple strategies can result in an overall sense of well-being in body, mind, and spirit.