I often share with my clients some of my grounding techniques and how I developed them. It takes creativity and reflection to connect with your senses in a way that helps to ground you in a moment of chaos.
Recently, I elevated one of my favorite grounding techniques by adding an experience I had never had before. The color teal is a grounding color for me because it reminds me of the ocean. When I'm feeling overwhelmed, I find this color, and it reminds me to breathe. When I breathe, I remember the ocean, the waves crashing into the sand, and the water receding, leaving its wet stamp across the shoreline. Grover Beach, CA, offers a special experience for visitors because you are allowed to make a fire right on the beach. The warmth of the fire, the sound of the crashing waves, the ocean smell, and the brightness of the fire are new memories that will help me connect with my senses and nature.
A growing body of researchers is working to use nature as a prescription to counteract the effects of toxic stress. The ParksRx Program is based on the idea that spending time in nature is good for your health. In California's Bay Area, most counties host a ParksRx program, often connecting parks and public health departments.
I regularly encourage my clients to get outside for the benefits of vitamin D and for a change of scenery. It is encouraging to see wide-scale efforts to promote the use of nature for healing. Explore and see how the nature around you can make you feel. You just might be surprised. Learn more about the ParksRx Program at https://www.parkrx.org