Grounding and Growth in August
Grounding & Growth: Finding Strength in Stillness this August
As August unfolds, many of us feel the subtle shift in seasons, a transition that invites us to pause, reflect, and gently reorient ourselves. This month, our focus here at Phoenix is about grounding and growth, and how anchoring into the present can become the very fuel for change, healing, and creativity.
In a world that often asks us to move fast, produce more, and keep going despite resistance, grounding offers something radically different: stillness, presence, and reconnection. It’s not about halting progress or giving up on goals, but about creating a stable foundation from which authentic, meaningful growth can emerge.
Just like a tree draws its strength from the soil through its roots, we too require that sense of strength from our roots in our lives. Grounding practices help us create the internal steadiness needed to weather life's storms, make conscious choices, and grow in alignment with our values and not in reaction to chaos.
Creative Arts Therapy & Grounding
Creative expression can be one of the most accessible and enjoyable ways to ground. Whether it’s painting, journaling, clay work, or movement, creative arts therapy helps people reconnect with their body, emotions, and inner voice.
These processes invite you into the present moment, where your hands are moving, your senses are alive, and you are fully engaged. This presence is grounding in itself, and also becomes a mirror for your inner state. What are you carrying? What are you ready to release? What wants to grow?
Through the act of creating, you begin to make sense of where you are and imagine where you’d like to go. You become both the artist and the canvas through shaping, shifting, and healing yourself through the work.
Starting From Where You Are
Before any journey of transformation can begin, we have to first acknowledge exactly where we are. That might be in a place of pain, confusion, or uncertainty. But grounding helps us sit in that truth without judgment. From here, we can set intentions not from shame or pressure, but from self-compassion.
Ask yourself:
What do I want to let go of?
What do I want to grow towards?
What tools do I need to support that journey?
Intention setting is the beginning of change. It tells your mind, body, and spirit where to point their energy. Grounding gives you the focus to maintain that intention through the distractions and disruptions of daily life.
Grounding Practices for August
Here are some simple ways to ground yourself this month and create space for your own growth:
Barefoot in Nature: Stand in the grass, on soil, or in sand and feel the Earth under your feet. Breathe deeply.
Mindful Walking: Walk slowly through a park or garden, paying attention to every sight, sound, smell, and sensation.
Creative Expression: Make art, write poetry, or play music without worrying about the outcome. Let the process ground you.
Breathwork: Practice gentle yogic breathing, such as alternate nostril breathing or box breathing, to calm your nervous system.
Journaling: Reflect on what you’ve learned from past patterns. Acknowledge your old survival strategies with gratitude, and invite in new ways of being.
Connection with Others: Join a creative or therapeutic group to explore healing and growth in community. Shared experience can be profoundly grounding.
Embrace the Dance Between Stability and Change
August is a powerful month for checking in with your roots and stretching toward your dreams. Let this be a time where you turn inward to feel steady, and outward to grow.
You are not a problem to be fixed. You are a story still being written. And with each grounding breath, each mindful step, each creative act, you are writing your next chapter.
Take a deep breath. Feel your feet on the earth.
You are grounded.
You are growing.
You are becoming.