Over the years, I gradually discovered a number of practices that became important to my personal development.

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I didn't learn them all at once, and I certainly didn't set out looking for them.

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Some I discovered naturally as a child. Others emerged through life experience, self-awareness, and a growing understanding of what helped me feel calmer, more balanced, and better able to navigate life's challenges.

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Earthing, grounding, finding my centre, and protecting my peace each became important practices in my own journey.

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Together, they helped me build greater resilience, strengthen healthy boundaries, remain present during difficult times, and develop a deeper sense of inner balance.

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These reflections are simply my experiences of discovering the practices that have quietly supported me throughout my life and continue to do so today.

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Earthing – Reconnecting with Nature

Looking back, I realised many of these practices had been part of my life since childhood.

 

As a child, I loved being outdoors.

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Whenever I visited my grandparents, I would kick off my shoes and walk barefoot through their garden, feeling the grass, pathways, and earth beneath my feet.

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At the time, I didn't know people would one day call this earthing.

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I only knew how it made me feel.

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I felt peaceful, uplifted, energised, and deeply connected to the world around me.

 

Those simple moments seemed to restore something within me, leaving me calmer, lighter, and happier than before.

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Looking back now, I realise nature was quietly teaching me one of my earliest lessons in wellbeing.

 

Many years later, I became interested in the idea of earthing—the practice of making direct contact with the earth through our bare feet or hands.

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Some research suggests it may support wellbeing, although our understanding continues to evolve.

 

Whether those benefits come from the earth itself, from slowing down, or simply from spending time in nature, I have always known how much better I feel afterwards.

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Nature has never simply relaxed me.

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It has restored me, lifted my spirits, and reminded me that even during the hardest times, peace can still be found.

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There are many things I enjoy, but walking barefoot always makes my heart smile. The moment my bare feet touch the earth, I am taken back to some of my happiest memories. I feel lighter, freer, and filled with the quiet sense that anything is possible.

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You may discover your own places, practices, or experiences that leave you feeling equally restored and uplifted.

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Grounding – Coming Back to the Present

As life became busier, I realised that being connected to nature was only part of what I needed.

 

There were times when my body was present, but my thoughts were somewhere else entirely—caught up in responsibilities, worries, plans, or the needs of other people.

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Gradually, I discovered that grounding meant something different to me.

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It became the practice of gently bringing my awareness back to the present moment.

 

The sound of running water.

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Sitting quietly.

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Taking a walk.

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Feeling the warmth of the sun or the cool breeze on my face.

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Simply stopping long enough to notice the world around me.

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These small moments helped me reconnect with the present instead of becoming lost in everything I couldn't control.

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Even today, the sound of a babbling brook or waves gently lapping at the shore has an almost immediate effect on me. It slows my thoughts, settles my breathing, and brings me back to the present moment.

 

For me, grounding often begins with slowing down, noticing my surroundings, and returning my attention to the present moment. You may find your own way of coming back to the here and now.

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Finding My Centre

It wasn't until my thirties that I could put words to what it meant to feel out of centre.

 

Looking back, I realised I had been instinctively finding my centre since childhood without ever knowing it.

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For me, it began through dance.

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Whenever I danced, something shifted.

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When life felt busy, confusing, or emotionally overwhelming, movement seemed to bring me back to my centre.

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After dancing, I always felt re-energised, clearer, lighter, and more centred again. I also felt secure, stronger in myself, and quietly confident, as though I was more in tune with myself again.

 

Later, I came to understand that finding my centre wasn't only about dance.

 

It was about recognising the things that helped me reconnect with the part of myself that felt secure, centred, and strong.

Music.

Writing.

Reflection.

Each became a different pathway back to balance.

 

Over time, I also learned to recognise the signs that I was out of centre.

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Sometimes I found myself overthinking, worrying, or trying to carry more than was mine to carry.

 

Those moments became reminders that I needed to pause, breathe, and return to the practices that helped me feel steady again.

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Finding my centre has never meant escaping life's difficulties.

 

It has meant discovering that, whatever is happening around me, I can always return to a place of calm within myself. 

 

Dance was one of the first ways I found my centre, but over the years I discovered many others. Yours may be different. The important thing is simply to notice what helps you return to that secure, steadier place within yourself.

 

Protecting My Peace

As my self-awareness deepened, I also became more aware of how strongly I was affected by other people's emotions, stress, and environments.

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For much of my life, I naturally absorbed far more than I realised. Over time, I came to understand that empathy does not mean carrying everything that belongs to someone else.

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Learning to protect my peace didn't happen overnight. It grew slowly through life experience and a growing understanding that I could care deeply for others without losing myself in the process.

 

One practice that helped me was shielding.

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For me, shielding isn't about shutting people out or building emotional walls.

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It is simply an intentional reminder that I can remain compassionate whilst also protecting my own wellbeing.

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There are many ways people practise shielding.

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Sometimes I imagine myself surrounded by a warm, protective light.

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At other times, I simply pause, take a slow deep breath, and quietly remind myself:

 

"Only what is for my highest good may enter my space."

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At times I have also used colours or simple words to strengthen that sense of protection.

 

Over time, I also learned that limiting the time I spent in draining environments or around people who consistently depleted my energy became another way of protecting my peace.

 

For me, these practices are not about fear.

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They are gentle reminders that it is healthy to care for others without losing ourselves in the process.

 

Protecting my peace has allowed me to remain open-hearted whilst recognising the importance of healthy boundaries.

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Shielding became one of the ways I learned to protect my peace. You may find that healthy boundaries, a quiet moment of reflection, a visualisation, prayer, or another simple practice helps you do the same.

 

What matters most is discovering what feels right for you.