Pause. Pursue. Positive.

The three P's: A grounding technique created by yours truly.

Whether you're feeling as though the very walls that hold together your life are crumbling, or you're so frustrated you can't breathe, there is never anything more important than your own well-being.

Grounding techniques don't work for everyone, I know that first hand as a stubborn person who refuses to use them when I really should. It isn't until I've spent 5 hours, 11 YouTube videos and 7 packets of migoreng that I realise my tantrum could have been avoided.

When people hear the word grounding, it is common to think of psychology. For us fast-thinkers and conclusion-jumpers, we might spiral over to the concept of mental health, and that doesn't seem to fit our current situation does it? We were just having a bad day. Don't make that mistake, because grounding can be used whenever and wherever it'll help. It is a way of becoming in-touch with ourselves and when we've cancelled plans with friends and are opening that 8th packet of migoreng while the next YouTube video loads, that's probably when we need to be in touch the most.

My technique has 3 steps.

1. Pause. Even if it's just for a second. I can't guarantee that invasive thoughts and feelings won't rush back, but I can guarantee if you try, you're one step closer to controlling negativity and not letting it control you. Continue to try and focus on your breathing and with every wander of thought, reel it back in with the inhale and exhale of self control.

2. Pursue. Look deep into the details of your day and pursue the positives. Nothing is 100% bad, and the more you look the more you will be able to find at least 1 thing that stands out from the negativity.

3. Positivity. Whether you find 1 thing or 1 thousand things that stand out, use them to make the elephant in the room small enough to put back on the shelf of balance. Let those positive moments be the ones that lead you to plan your next activity and the ones you think about before going to bed.

A x