It’s Okay to Not Be Okay: A Simple Grounding Exercise to Calm Your Mind
MOTIVATION
2/11/20252 min read
Self-help books promise transformation, but what happens when you still feel stuck? Life doesn’t always bend to our will, and setbacks are inevitable. The truth is—it’s okay to not be okay. Instead of forcing immediate change, take a step back, breathe, and focus on grounding yourself. Here’s how.
Why It’s Okay to Feel This Way
Reading self-help books often raises expectations, making us think that with enough effort, life’s challenges will disappear. But life isn’t that simple. Setbacks are normal, and growth takes time. Fighting to change everything all at once can leave you feeling overwhelmed. Instead, allow yourself to pause and accept where you are.
The Power of Grounding
Grounding is a powerful tool to reconnect to the present moment, calm your thoughts, and reset. It helps you focus on the now instead of spiraling into frustration over what hasn’t changed yet. By grounding yourself, you create the mental space to move forward with clarity and strength.
A Step-by-Step Grounding Exercise
Pause and Breathe:
Sit down in a quiet space. Take a deep breath in for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, and exhale for 4 seconds. Repeat this cycle 5 times.Engage Your Senses:
Look around and identify:5 things you can see
4 things you can touch
3 things you can hear
2 things you can smell
1 thing you can taste
Feel Your Body:
Notice how your feet touch the ground or how your hands rest on your lap. Feel the weight of your body pressing against the chair. Focus on these sensations to bring yourself fully into the present.Repeat an Affirmation:
Say to yourself, “It’s okay to not be okay. I am exactly where I need to be right now.”
Why This Works
This simple grounding exercise shifts your focus from the chaos in your mind to the stability of the present moment. When you stop fighting your emotions and allow yourself to just be, you create space for clarity and calm.
Life’s challenges won’t disappear overnight, and that’s okay. You don’t need to fix everything immediately. By grounding yourself and calming your mind, you’ll find the strength to face what comes next. Remember: life goes on, and so will you. Allow yourself to pause, breathe, and trust the journey.
May the force be with you