How to use your body to soothe your mind.

Calm Practice

Comforting Touch

Choose an object that feels soothing and calming, such as a crystal, a stone, a small  piece of fabric, a button, a coin, or a small toy.

This will be your grounding object, to carry with you in your bag or pocket for support if you feel anxious or overwhelmed during your day.

Start by ‘imprinting’ your intentions for this object. 

Hold it in your hand and observe it will a soft focus while breathing deeply.

In your mind offer words of safety and calm to this object. For example, you might think, “When I hold you I am calm and grounded in the present moment. You remind me to connect with my breath, to slow my mind and to trust that the tricky times will pass.”

You might like to image a protective light surrounding and infusing the object.

Then, whenever you feel distressed you can hold your grounding object, reminding yourself of its intentions. ‘I am safe. This will pass. Breathe.’

As I explore the next step in my career and actively seek a full-time position, I have discovered this practice to be effective during job interviews, to calm my nerves, lower anxiety, and focus on the present moment. The object is often my favorite pen, which I am likely to have in my hand during part on an interview. If you are also actively seeking a job, you may want to give this practice a try during your next interview!

Reference

Ballagh, R. (2024). Comforting touch. 101 Ways to Find Calm: How to Use Your Body to Soothe Your Mind. P. 192-193.