Becoming Grounded in Your Purpose

Jiddu Krishnamurti said, “Meditation is the action of silence.”

In a world filled with commotion and loud voices, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find moments of peace. In TERRAtalks at convention this year, Tilena Szpesi shared where she finds peace and how she incorporates grounding routines into her everyday life.

Tilena explained how most people spend their days in a constant mental loop that probably won’t take them anywhere. Finding a sense of calm is imperative to progress, and doing activities that relax your mind can provide stillness amid life’s noise.

Years ago, Tilena moved to a hectic city. She found herself bombarded by the loudness of big city life. She couldn’t sleep, her hair started falling out, and she felt emotionally exhausted. She didn’t know what she wanted to do with her life. Worried, her mom encouraged her to return home, and Tilena accepted.

One day, Tilena decided to hike up a mountain near her childhood home. After two hours of simply wandering, she descended and—for the first time in so long—felt completely different. Reality hadn’t changed. Her problems were still there, but her mindset had improved. She started visiting the mountain every three days, enjoying how her life felt happier, fuller, and more meaningful.

After several trips up her mountain, Tilena realized she’d become one with nature. She was free in the mountains. She later found out she’d been enjoying a well-known grounding practice known in Japan as shinrin-yoku.

Grounding yourself can have a powerful effect on your life. It can increase your energy, uplift your mood, and improve sleep. However, it’s easy to come up with excuses for not taking time to do so.

Tilena doesn’t have time to hike a mountain every day—the place where she feels most grounded—so she’s developed techniques she can use to ground herself at home in only a few minutes.

Try this quick grounding technique!

One Minute Awareness: Based on the Five Senses Technique

1. Search for three new things you can see.
2. Find three things you can touch.
3. Listen for three sounds you can hear.
4. Discover one new thing you can smell.
5. Find one new thing you can taste.

The new Shinrin-Yoku Forest Bathing Blend that was released at convention 2023 is the perfect essential oil companion for supporting your grounding practices.

Here are ideas for using Shinrin-Yoku or Shinrin-Yoku Touch:

1. Diffuse during grounding and meditation.
2. Apply to the floor of your shower or bathroom mat.
3. Apply to the back of your neck and ears.

Try using Shinrin-Yoku first thing in the morning so you can be fully present all day!

Making a habit of grounding yourself may take time. Set an alarm each day to remind yourself to be present.

Tilena encouraged everyone to use her techniques and follow Mahatma Ghandi’s admonition: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”