Being Your Own Anchor

There’s no denying that things feel heavy right now. Whether it’s the news, social media, or conversations with people we care about, many of us are holding a quiet (or loud) sense of anxiety, anger, fear, or emotional exhaustion. I know I feel it in my own body. Even if we’re not talking about it directly, our nervous systems are picking up on the collective distress and it’s showing up in our bodies, our moods, our relationships. Perhaps we've been feeling more agitated or irritable recently, or even more fatigued and lacking motivation.

You’re not broken for feeling overwhelmed. You’re human.

In times like this, we don’t need to do more, we need to come back to what helps us feel safe, grounded, and connected. That might be placing a hand on your heart and taking a slow breath. It might be stepping outside and feeling the sun on your face, or walking, stretching, shaking, or crying to move energy through your body. Naming the part of you that feels helpless, anxious, or angry is a powerful IFS (Internal Family Systems) practice, it reminds us that we are more than just our reaction.

Anchoring isn’t about avoiding what’s happening. It’s about tending to ourselves within it. When we come home to our bodies and connect with our internal resources, we’re better able to show up for ourselves and each other with clarity, compassion, and courage.

Ask yourself: What helps me feel rooted right now? Maybe it’s nature, prayer, a grounding phrase, a song, or a connection that reminds you of who you are. For me its petting my dogs or taking them for a long calm walk outside. Or whispering to myself, "I am here".

You don’t have to carry everything. But you do deserve to feel supported as you move through it.

Here are some resources I wanted to share. I often inform my clients about the books I'm currently reading to ensure the language I use during our sessions is familiar. My current favorite is "Body First Healing" by Brittney Piper.

For more information on grounding, I suggest reading Dr. Arielle Schwartz's article here: https://drarielleschwartz.com/grounding-dr-arielle-schwartz/

To learn more about IFS and parts work, I recommend the book "No Bad Parts" by Richard Schwartz.