The first two lines of my SHINE script read:
I am the Queen of Self-Mastery.
I am grounded in my power.
When I came back to those words recently, I had one of those moments that made me pause. I had forgotten I’d updated my script with that second line. Then, just a few days earlier, someone had told me that I needed to be more grounded.
It made me smile. Because the truth was already written — my deeper self had known before my conscious mind caught up.
But it got me thinking: what does it really mean to be grounded?
What Does Being Grounded Really Mean?
“Grounded” is a word we hear a lot, but often without much explanation. For me, groundedness is about being fully present in your body and in your truth, no matter what’s happening around you.
It looks like:
Presence: not spinning into “what ifs,” anxiety, or future scenarios.
Rootedness: standing firm, not swept up by other people’s energy or expectations.
Alignment: knowing where you stand because your values and your actions line up.
When I’m grounded, I feel steady. My feet are on the floor, my breath is even, and I know who I am.
What Happens When We’re Ungrounded
If being grounded is about presence and rootedness, then being ungrounded is the opposite — scattered, anxious, reactive. And when I look at my own life, I can see how often protective strategies creep in when I lose my grounding.
Perfectionism pulls me up into my head. I second-guess everything and disconnect from my body.
People-pleasing pulls me outwards into other people’s energy. I start living for approval instead of authenticity.
Overworking disconnects me from myself. I push past my limits and ignore my body’s signals.
Avoidance leaves me drifting, unmoored, because I don’t want to face what’s really happening.
These strategies might keep us safe in the moment, but they also keep us small. They disconnect us from our centre.
Why Groundedness Matters for Self-Mastery
Self-mastery isn’t about controlling every thought or feeling — it’s about choosing how we respond. Groundedness makes that choice possible.
Here’s why it matters:
Clarity – When you’re grounded, the mental noise quiets down. You can actually hear your inner guidance.
Boundaries – It’s harder for others to knock you off balance when your roots are strong.
Resilience – Life’s storms still come, but you bend instead of breaking.
Authenticity – You show up as you, not as the performance of who you think you should be.
Groundedness, in other words, is the soil that self-mastery grows from. Without it, we’re easily swayed by other people’s expectations or by our own protective habits. With it, we stand tall in who we are.
How to Cultivate Groundedness
The good news is that groundedness isn’t something you either have or don’t have. It’s a practice — something you can return to again and again.
Here are a few simple ways to bring more groundedness into your daily life:
1. Physical Anchoring
Place your feet flat on the floor, notice the weight of your body, and take three deep breaths. This takes less than a minute but can shift your whole state.
2. Move Your Body
Running, martial arts, yoga, or even a walk around the block can bring you back into your body when your mind has gone into overdrive.
3. Connect with Nature
Step outside. Touch a tree. Feel the ground beneath your feet. Nature has a way of reminding us of what’s steady and enduring.
4. Check In With Your Values
Ask yourself: Does this choice align with what matters most to me? Values are anchors. When we act from them, we naturally feel more grounded.
5. Notice Your Senses
What can you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch right now? This simple practice pulls you out of the swirl of thoughts and into the moment.
6. Journal It Out
Writing gets what’s swirling in your head onto paper. It helps you slow down and see what’s really true for you.
7. Create Rituals
A grounding ritual doesn’t need to be elaborate. It might be your morning cup of tea, lighting a candle, or placing your hand on your heart before a meeting.
Coming Back, Again and Again
Groundedness isn’t a one-time achievement. You don’t tick a box and declare yourself forever steady. It’s a practice of noticing when you’ve drifted and gently returning to yourself.
For me, being grounded is a reminder that I don’t have to earn my worth by overworking, over-giving, or perfecting. I can trust that who I am, rooted in my values, is enough.
So I’ll leave you with this reflection:
Where in your life do you feel most grounded right now? And where do you notice yourself being pulled away?
The practice is simply to notice — and then, with compassion, to come back home to yourself.
If you’d like to explore this more deeply, join me this Friday for my workshop: Take Off the Armour. We’ll look at the protective strategies that keep us ungrounded — perfectionism, people-pleasing, overworking, avoidance — and how to release them so you can stand more firmly in your truth.
Reserve your place here 
: Taking Off The Armour Workshop