Effort vs. Relaxation: How to Release Stuck Energy During Grounding
Welcome to Part 5 of the Energy Reset series!
In our last few posts, we’ve focused on using relaxation to release stuck energy during grounding. But what happens when relaxation isn’t enough? Sometimes, the energy we’re trying to move feels heavy, intense, or stuck, and that’s when it’s helpful to use a bit of effort.
Today, we’ll explore the process of using intention and effort to guide that energy down through your body and into the earth.
Recap: Relaxation and Grounding
If you've been following along, you already know how powerful the relaxation method can be. By focusing on your breath, bringing awareness to your body, and gently observing sensations, you can often experience a natural release. But when that doesn’t work—when the energy stays stuck or becomes overwhelming—it’s time to shift gears and use a bit of intention and physical effort to help the process along.
When to Use Effort in Grounding
While relaxation helps soften and release tension, sometimes you may feel an energy block that doesn’t respond to gentle awareness. These blocks can manifest as tightness, heaviness, or discomfort in areas like your chest, belly, or back. When this happens, you can use the power of your mind and body to move the energy.
Effort here doesn’t mean force. Instead, it means using your muscles and focused intention to help guide the energy where it needs to go—out of your body and into the earth.
Step-by-Step: How to Use Effort to Release Stuck Energy
- Start with Awareness: Begin by settling into your body. Whether you’re standing or sitting, bring your awareness to your breath. Inhale deeply through your nose and feel the air fill your lungs, expanding your chest and belly. Then exhale, relaxing your body as the air flows out.
- Notice the Sensation: As you breathe, deepen your awareness and observe any tightness, discomfort, or heaviness in your body. Where is the energy stuck? Is it in your chest, belly, or shoulders? Simply notice where you feel the sensation and stay with it for 30-60 seconds.
- Apply Effort: If the energy isn’t moving on its own, it’s time to apply some effort. Using the muscles in your body, start to gently push the energy down. For example, if the sensation is in your chest, you might use your shoulders and back muscles to "push" the energy downward. Imagine you’re using your body to move that energy down your chest, through your belly, and out through your root—either into the chair if you’re seated, or down your legs if you’re standing.
- Expand Your Awareness: If the energy still feels stuck, try expanding your awareness. Sometimes we focus too narrowly on a small spot, like pushing down a tennis ball, when the sensation may be bigger—like a beach ball. Widen your awareness to make space for the energy to move, and continue pushing it downward.
- Breathe and Repeat: Use your breath to assist the process. As you inhale, imagine that breath helping to push the energy down. As you exhale, let the energy move further down into the earth. Repeat this process as needed—do one push, and if the energy still feels stuck, repeat it until you feel a release.
- Mindfully Release into the Earth: Once you’ve moved the energy down into the earth, be mindful about how you release it. Visualize that energy exploding into a million tiny pieces, allowing the earth to recycle it. This helps ensure that you’ve released the energy completely and that it won’t return.
Why Effort Works
Using effort to release energy works because it combines the power of your mind, body, and breath to help the energy flow. Sometimes, the block is too big to be released through relaxation alone. When that happens, using your muscles to push the energy down, along with focused intention, can guide the energy out of your system more effectively.
It’s important to note that this process isn’t about forcing anything. It’s about helping the energy flow where it needs to go, with a sense of control and focus.
When Not to Use Effort
If the sensation becomes overwhelming or if you feel like the emotion is pulling you in, it’s important not to dive into the feeling. Stay in the role of the observer. If the energy feels too big, focus on expanding your awareness and pushing it down gently, rather than forcing it.
If you’re still struggling with stuck energy, take a step back and return to the relaxation technique, focusing on gentle awareness. Sometimes, all we need is patience and time for the energy to move.
Practice Makes Perfect
As you continue to ground yourself using both relaxation and effort, remember that practice makes perfect. The more you ground, the easier it will be to notice when relaxation is enough and when you need to apply a little more effort to move the energy.
Our goal this month is to ground as much as possible, so by the end of October, you’ll have developed a deeper sense of peace, clarity, and control over your energy system.
Share Your Experience!
I’d love to hear about your experiences with this process. Have you encountered any stuck energy that needed extra effort to release? Or do you have questions about how to use these techniques more effectively? Share your comments, and I’ll respond with additional strategies to help you on your journey.
Thank you for joining me in this energy reset process! Stay tuned for the next part of the series, where we’ll continue to explore ways to deepen your grounding practice.
