Roselle Umlas
Whenever I think about groundedness, an image of one of my favorite yoga poses comes to mind – the Mountain pose. It’s a classic, deceptively simple pose; one just has to plant their feet firmly on the ground and align the rest of the body.
It’s a foundational pose for all other standing poses. Which is exactly what groundedness means – having a firm foundation that allows us to achieve balance and alignment in life.
What does being grounded look like in real life? I don’t mean just physically, but in all other aspects – mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Do you think you have this good sense of balance and stability?
In this article, I’ll share nine traits that show you’re more grounded than you realize.
1) You have a strong sense of self-awareness
Obviously, when we’re talking about groundedness, we have to start with the self, the root of all growth and self-improvement.
As a grounded person, this is one of your key traits. You have a clear perception of your personality, strengths, flaws, thoughts, emotions, and all that.
You know who you are and what you want, and you’re very much aware of why you feel the way you do in certain situations.
You didn’t get that way by accident or by some fortunate genetic inheritance, though. It took a lot of willingness to engage in self-reflection, which can be uncomfortable at times.
Nevertheless, you understand that constantly examining and reflecting on your thoughts and actions are what will help you grow as a person.
This leads me to the next point…
2) You have a strong moral compass
All of that self-reflection you do comes with a huge reward – a clear sense of right and wrong.
Grounded people tend to have a well-defined set of personal values, and this serves as an internal guide for living a just and righteous life.
In fact, this strong moral compass is the main element that stabilizes you. It’s your anchor, just like the Mountain pose. You’re not easily swayed by others’ opinions and influences because you’re crystal clear on what you stand for.
3) Your self-worth comes from within
That sense of right and wrong also gives you a strong sense of self-worth.
And the best part is, it’s an internal kind of self-worth – immune from the need for external validation and fear of judgment.
This frees you up from having to people please or fit into society’s expectations.
If you’ve reached this level of quiet confidence and commitment to an authentic life, you’re more grounded than you think you are.
4) You understand the importance of balance
This is a hard lesson I learned in my younger years. Back then, I was all about achieving my goals and pulling in an income that would give me a comfortable life.
There’s nothing wrong with that, per se. The problem was, I forgot to include “living a balanced life” on my list of goals.
And I don’t mean just work-life balance. I’m also talking about the balance between loving others and respecting myself. Not only was my life consumed by work, but it was also off-kilter from having to give in to the demands of everyone around me.
Sadly, I ended up feeling burned out. But now that I look back on it, I see that it was a necessary experience. I had to learn how to make more meaningful goals and craft a better vision of my life.
So believe me when I say balance isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity for a grounded life. And if you’ve got this sense of equilibrium in yours, then you’re already way ahead.
5) You don’t feel the need to be in control all the time
Speaking about my struggles with finding balance reminds me of how relinquishing control was such a huge part of it.
I find it an interesting paradox that to live a balanced and stable life, one must give up the idea of controlling everything.
But it’s true. Life is by nature unpredictable, and though you might fill up an entire journal with your plans and goals, you’ve got to leave room for the unknown.
If you’re a grounded person, you probably already know this. You understand the delicate balance between what you can and can’t control.
So, you know where to focus your energy and where you simply have to sit back and go with the flow.
6) You use logic more than emotion to respond
One of the biggest signs a person lacks stability is if they’re reactive.
Notice how I said reactive, not responsive. These two things might look similar, but there’s a definite distinction.
Let me show you an example:
The old me, whenever I would receive criticism, would feel a rush of anger. I would instantly be on defensive mode, snapping back with a counter-criticism or spitting out a what-aboutistic statement.
I was simply reacting, driven by the initial rush of emotion without thinking of the outcome.
But the new me? Oh, she’s so much more temperate. More thoughtful.
These days, when I’m given constructive criticism, I might still feel a touch of annoyance at first. But instead of lashing out right away, I take a beat to calm myself and respond with appreciation or a question to further clarify what’s been said.
How do you deal with similar situations? If you’re responsive rather than reactive, that’s a pretty good sign you’re grounded!
7) You’re comfortable with stillness
This is another huge sign you’re a grounded person. You see, in this fast-paced world we live in, stillness can be unnerving for many people.
These days, it’s so rare to find people not looking at their phones, just sitting quietly, feeling no pressure to fill up every moment with noise and busyness.
In contrast, grounded people don’t just “put up” with stillness; they actually welcome it.
Because it’s the perfect time for reflecting on your life and processing your thoughts and emotions – both of which are necessary to keep your feet firmly on the ground.
8) You understand the transience of things in life
You know what else keeps you firmly rooted in life? The understanding that everything passes, that nothing is permanent.
One of my guiding tenets is this timeless nugget of wisdom: “This too shall pass.”
I’ve been through so many upheavals in life – health issues, the deaths of people I love, breakups, major financial problems…
I’ve been through a lot of giant joys as well – becoming a parent, getting the job of my dreams, receiving awards for my work…
And through all that, the thought of how these moments are transient kept me grounded.
I want to emphasize that this becomes even more precious when dealing with the good stuff – things like fame, wealth, success, lots of compliments…all those things that can easily go to our heads and make us feel like we’re on top of the world.
It’s what keeps us down-to-earth, balanced, and grateful.
9) You have a grateful spirit
It’s easy to focus on what’s wrong in our lives and forget about what’s going well. It’s equally easy to see your blessings through an inflated, self-important lens.
How do you approach the everyday? Have you struck the right balance between humility and appreciation of the good things in your life?
If so, you’ve already discovered just how big a role gratitude plays in staying grounded.
I’ve made gratitude a part of my daily routine, and I can’t stress enough the profound impact it has had on my life.
When bad stuff happens, staying grateful makes me look at the bright side. And when good stuff happens, it makes me appreciate everyone and everything that helped to make it happen.
That way, I feel so full and content, regardless of my circumstances!
Final thoughts
Being grounded is not about perfection or living a life free of upheaval. It’s about developing a deep understanding of yourself and finding healthy ways to cope with life’s rollercoaster ride. It comes with experience and a great deal of self-reflection.
If some of the things in this list resonated with you, that’s great! You’re probably more grounded than you realize.
And if you’re not yet there, then now is the perfect time to start. Examine your values and try to live your life as close to those values each day, one step at a time.
