“Flying starts from the ground. The more grounded you are, the higher you fly”
-J. R. Rim
Grounding
Building a Personal Foundation for Countering Racism
Grounding or centering refers to a person’s foundation in the world. It provides the underlying support necessary to be OK in the world, to be whole in a sustained way.
Our grounding provides the continuity on which we rely when dealing with the challenges of life. It provides the sense of safety that allows us to risk bringing ourselves fully to the challenges we face. Our grounding develops over time, often on an unconscious level. Acting with conscious intent, however, can dramatically deepen and accelerate that grounding.
The big challenges we face will require us to leave our comfort zones, but a strong sense of grounding can provide enough sense of safety that we say “Yes” to the challenge, leave our comfort zones, and are at least OK – and potentially thrive. Grounding not only supports us in saying “yes”, it also provides a basis for persevering and becoming increasingly resilient.
Both depth of grounding and breadth of grounding are important. Not being grounded deeply enough or being grounded in too few places can leave us very vulnerable to change and, therefore, in a poor position to lead change. Lack of depth means that it is very easy to feel uprooted and swept away. Being too narrowly grounded means that a threat to those few sources of grounding can be overwhelming
Grounding and Countering Racism
Countering racism is a daunting challenge, and it will naturally take us out of our comfort zones. If we are not adequately grounded we will be too vulnerable to doubts, fears, uncertainties, anxiety, loss of confidence, etc. Without being adequately grounded, we are very likely to either refuse to leave our comfort zones and go forth – or we will quickly retreat back into our comfort zones. Even if we stay in the game we will be vulnerable to the inevitable setbacks and disappointments that happen as we take on racism and we can easily get worn down or lose heart
Sources Of Grounding
Fortunately, there are a lot of potential sources of grounding. Many of these factors will already be at play, but raising them to a conscious level increases their impact and provides an opportunity to strengthen them.
Significance
- Making a contribution – What difference do I make – might I make?
- Sense of purpose and meaning – What is my life about? What is my purpose? What’s worth effort, worth sacrificing for?
- Sense of identity (many possible facets) – Who am I – what are my defining characteristics and attributes? How do I think of myself, define, or characterize myself?
- Sense of worth/esteem – “Of what value am I and to whom?” What is it that I do or how I live and relate to others that gives me a sense of being worthy, of being of value?
Relationship
- Affiliation/connection with others – With whom and with what am I connected (individuals, family, groups, organizations, communities, sets of beliefs, etc.)?
- Sense of having a place and belonging – Where am I accepted, where am I a member? Where is my place(s)? Where do I feel like I belong?
- Sense of order, of orientation – How do I make sense of my world so I can make my way?
Growth
- Discovery and mastery – How am I becoming wiser, more complete, and capable? How am I discovering and mastering physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual challenges?
- Creativity – How am I expressing myself, originating or developing things (on my own or with others)? How do I enhance life and for whom? What exists because of me?
- Authorship – personal power and responsibility. How am I taking responsibility for being the author of my life and finding the power and influence to do so? How am I finding my gifts and bringing them to the world?
Well-Being
- Physical – health status, physical capabilities, rational diet, sleep,
- Social – connections, value of relationships – family, friends, co-workers, membership in groups organizations, activities with others, etc.
“Be like a tree. Stay grounded. Connect with your roots. Turnover a new leaf. Bend before you break. Enjoy your unique natural beauty. Keep growing”
Unknown
Grounding: Spheres of Life
The basic question here is, “In which parts or spheres of my life am I grounded?” There are many possible areas of life where the different sources of grounding may grow. In fact, becoming conscious of all the small areas where we are grounded can be quite a surprise. The five basic spheres include:
- Family
- Social Network
- Work
- Organizations
- Community
- Spiritual Realm
The Question - “Where and how deeply am I grounded in the different spheres of my life?”
The question can be answered by looking at (a) specific sources of grounding and (b) in seeing in which domains those sources can be found. For example, looking at a sense of contribution as a source of grounding, the question would be, “Is my sense of contribution based on my job, my role in my family, my work in the community, my spiritual life, etc.? The question can also be asked in the opposite direction. For example, “What sources of grounding do I find in my work, my family, my community, etc.?
The more sources of grounding we have, the better.
The more domains of life in which those sources exist, the better.
(The PDF download has more detail and the Action Template provides a place to capture your thoughts about how to act to deepen your grounding.)