The Grounding Five: Release What You're Carrying

Hey there, friend. I'm Julia Cartwright, and I'm so glad you're here with me today. You know, it's late summer, and there's this particular kind of restlessness that creeps in right now—that feeling that everything's about to shift, and suddenly there's so much on your plate. Maybe you're feeling that too. Well, you're in exactly the right place. Today we're doing something called the Grounding Five, and it's going to help you shake off that weight you've been carrying. So let's settle in together. Find a comfortable spot, and I mean truly comfortable. No perching on the edge of chairs like you're about to bolt. Sink in a little. Feel your body meeting whatever's supporting it—that chair, that couch, the ground beneath your feet. Notice how solid it is. How reliable. That's what we're about to reconnect with. Now, take a breath in through your nose for a count of four. Feel the cool air moving in. Hold it for a beat. Then exhale slowly through your mouth, like you're fogging up a mirror. Feel that? That's your nervous system getting the memo that it's safe to relax. Let's do that two more times. In through the nose. And out through the mouth. Beautiful. Now, here's where the magic happens. I want you to imagine that stress you've been carrying—go ahead and picture it however it shows up for you. Maybe it's tension in your shoulders, that little knot in your chest, or just this gray cloud hovering nearby. Don't fight it. Just notice it. Now, with your next exhale, imagine it flowing downward, like water through a funnel, moving through your body and right down into the earth beneath you. The ground doesn't judge that stress. It doesn't get tired. It just accepts it and transforms it. Your job is simply to let it go with each breath. Continue this for about two minutes. In through the nose, imagine your body filling with something cool and clear. Out through the mouth, and that stress flows down and away. You're not fighting anything. You're just cooperating with gravity and with the earth's capacity to hold what we can't carry alone. And when thoughts pop up—and they will, because that's what thoughts do—just notice them like clouds drifting past a window. They're not the window. They're not you. Let them drift. Gently, bring your awareness back to your body in this moment. Open your eyes when you're ready. You've just practiced something powerful, and here's your challenge for today: When you feel stress creeping in, pause. Feel your feet on the ground. Take three intentional breaths. That's it. That small act of grounding can reshape your entire afternoon. Thank you so much for spending this time on stress relief with me. Please subscribe so you never miss a practice. You've got this. Be kind to yourself today. For great deals today, check out https://amzn.to/47ZqpWT