By Mandy Kuntz
Grief doesn’t wait until life slows down. It doesn’t pause for your work schedule, your
parenting demands, or your to-do list. It shows up in the middle of your real, messy,
exhausted life and demands your attention—even when you barely have any to give.
When I lost my dad, it happened suddenly. Yes, he had Parkinson’s. Yes, he had health
issues. But we still thought we had more time. The stroke came out of nowhere, and it took
him before I could even grasp what was happening. That kind of loss… it shocks the system. It
changes the shape of everything.
And yet—life kept going. I still had to show up for my kids. My clients. My bills. My relationships.
I still had to figure out how to live while part of me felt like it had died too.
That’s where grounding came in. That’s what saved me.
What Is Grounding?
Grounding is the practice of bringing your mind back to the present moment. It’s a therapeutic
tool used to calm the nervous system and ease emotional overwhelm—especially helpful in
moments of panic, grief, and anxiety. It’s how you tell your body: you’re safe right now.
One of the most healing types of grounding for me has been earthing—the practice of
physically connecting to the earth.
How to Practice Earthing Through Grief
Grief can make you feel untethered, floating through your days in a haze. Earthing brings you
back. It’s simple, but powerful. Here’s how you can begin:
Step 1: Find Your Ground
Go outside. Take off your shoes if you can. Stand barefoot on the grass, soil, sand, or stone.
Let your feet feel the earth. Let gravity pull you downward—not in defeat, but in connection.
Step 2: Breathe with Intention
Inhale deeply through your nose, counting to four. Hold for four. Exhale slowly through your
mouth, counting to six. Repeat until your mind slows and your chest feels less tight.
Let your breath mirror the Earth’s rhythm—slow, steady, alive.
Step 3: Notice Your SensesUse the 5-4-3-2-1 technique: 5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can
hear, 2 things you can smell, 1 thing you can taste or imagine tasting. This anchors you to
what’s real right now—not the past, not the future. Just here.
Step 4: Look for Signs
As you walk, sit, or breathe—be open. Grief has a way of speaking through nature. For me,
it’s been water. Trees. Turtles. The slow, grounded ones who carry their homes with them.
Sometimes, that’s the message in itself: You are home. Right here. Still alive.
Grief Is Both Selfish and Sacred
There are moments when grief feels selfish—when I just want one more call, one more day,
one more laugh. Even though I know my dad is no longer in pain… even though it was his
time… I still long for more.
And yet, I know grief is also sacred. It’s a reflection of deep love. A strange kind of blessing.
To love someone that much means to hurt this much. It’s a price we pay—but also a privilege.
So I keep grounding. I keep walking outside. I let the wind say what I can’t. I let the Earth hold
what I’m not ready to. And I remind myself: I don’t have to carry this alone.
You’re Invited: A Safe Space for Your Grief
At Clayton Counseling, we’re opening a community Grief Group to hold space for exactly this.
For the messy, beautiful, complicated, exhausting work of grieving while still doing life. We’ll
talk. We’ll breathe. We’ll ground. And we’ll heal—together.
If you’re carrying grief, whether your loss was recent or long ago, you are welcome here. You
don’t have to explain why you’re still grieving. You just have to show up.
To learn more or sign up, contact us at Clayton Counseling. You don’t have to go through this
alone. Let’s ground this grief together.
Leave a comment