The 4-7-8 breath is effective at calming because it activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the "rest and digest" response, counteracting the "fight or flight" response triggered by stress and anxiety. This technique also engages the vagus nerve, which can help regulate the heart rate and reduce stress hormones.

I learned of this meditation from two people: first- energy healer and teacher Jeffery Allen. In his courses, he teaches about what energy is, and how we can use it to benefit our lives. He is the first person who introduced me to the idea of a grounding cord.

Second is my own personal life coach Tricia Gast. Tricia is an Integral Coach, Teacher and Healer, and has helped me in many ways navigate the transitions and relationships in my life. She has helped me remember that I can set and re-set my grounding cord multiple times a day if I have to.

I love how when something is meant for me in my life, I’ll often be provided the same signal or information from multiple sources. To me, it is a confirmation that I should lean in, put my fears aside and be a student again, with curiousity and an open heart.

I hope you enjoy this simple grounding meditation. In the future I will build off of this concept of the “grounding cord” to allow ourselves to ground and release even deeper, but for today- I wanted to keep things simple.