As I was finishing up my post graduate degree and the stress was piling up, I realized that I lacked compassion but didn’t know how to give this to myself. Self-compassion is defined as “extending compassion to one’s self in instances of perceived inadequacy, failure, or general suffering.” While I was not failing anything, I did feel like I was drowning in a long list of things to accomplish. Deadline after deadline started to put immense pressure on me, and this was when I decided it was time to start taking better care of myself.

The first thing I learned wasn’t how to speak kindly to myself or how to let things go, instead it was learning how to GROUND.

Grounding

Sometimes we can get so caught up in our daily work that we forget to come back to center. We live in our tasks and so lose sight of the present moment. In fact, when we become so engrossed in our list of things to do, we sometimes lose ourselves and feel like we may be flying.

You might have heard of the term “grounding” before. Healers use it in the sense that they ask your spirit to be present HERE and NOW. Psychologists would call “grounding” a form of mindfulness and perhaps even use this in some form of Gestalt therapy. But what grounding means to me is to take notice of whats present and to become physically aware of the earth beneath me. It’s finding my balance at the root.

What is the root?

A quick definition I snatched off the internet that explains the root chakra is it is “the first chakra and is located at the base of the spine. It is the root of your being and establishes the deepest connections with your physical body, your environment and the Earth — it is your survival center.”

In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the root chakra would be your safety and physiological needs. A chakra, is an energy point through which psycho-emotional problems may tend to circulate. If there is any blockage in a chakra point, then it is said that there are psycho-emotional issues that need to be addressed. At the root chakra, it is important to heal issues of safety, security, balance, and care.

Messages from the root

Basically the overarching message of your root chakra is “I AM ENOUGH”.

When I found myself running around trying to check things off my list, I had to take a step back and ask myself if I was satisfied with what I was doing and at what point I would decide that it was enough. I sat down with my healer who pointed out to me that knowing this would make me happy. Why? Because I would be able to define what success really means to ME and only ME.

“I am enough.” 3 simple words that speak volumes to us.

“I am enough” refers to the boundaries we place despite our hunger for success, love and belonging.

“I am enough” is simply knowing when we are satisfied and being able to sit with whatever outcome our reflection tends to lead us.

The effect of this statement leads to knowing other things like:

1. “I know how to care for my body, mind, and spirit”

2. “I know what it feels like to be grounded and to gain the support I need”

3. “I know how to survive”

The #SelfCompassionRevolution

In discovering how many ways I was so incredibly ENOUGH, I found ways to become self-compassionate. And because I was eager to share what I learned, I started hashtag-ing everything I found that resonated with self compassion under what I liked to call the #SelfCompassionRevolution. I figured it was time to make it a movement, not just for myself but for anybody who was ready and open to take concrete steps into their healing.

The #SelfCompassionRevolution is really about making the concept of self compassion CONTAGIOUS, and allowing men and women to find their own paths to self care.

Helping others heal the root

If healing the root chakra meant affirming my mantra of “I am enough”, then helping other people heal at the root meant telling them they were enough.

Sometimes we get so caught up on how things “SHOULD BE” or how people “should be”. I admit demanding that people I love must be a certain way, and have probably contributed in some way to their believing that they weren’t good enough.

Here’s what I learned about helping others heal at the root:

1. It matters that we offer and show our support.

2. It matters that we provide words of affirmation

3. And when we are faced with a tough situation, it matters that we always send unconditional love

Other ways to heal at the root

Now aside from your daily mantras, here are other ways to help you heal the root:

1. Engage in physical exercise

2. Explore grounding exercises

3. Write and start defining what happiness, success, and love mean to you

4. Read a book

5. Know when you’ve done enough and learn how to ask for help

I really hope that this entry has given you insight into your own healing and that you find ways to take those first few steps into doing the work.

Sending you all so much love and healing,

G

Developing Self-Compassion: Healing the root chakra