finding anchors

Life is crazy and unpredictable and can get a little messy. Sometimes I don't even know what to do, where to start, and it's just like what the heck just happened. Can anyone relate? Has this feeling ever occurred to anyone else? Tell me it's not just me. 

And in those moments, I take a deep breath and tell myself that Ayurveda has a solution for this as well. 

Go back to your anchors. 

What do I mean when I say that we need to find our anchors? Well, let's start off with what an anchor physically does in its most realest sense. They hold a ship down in the middle of the ocean or at the dock, and sometimes even for safety. Similarly, we need to find anchors in our lives that carry out the same purpose. 

The anchors in our lives need to keep us grounded. When things just get too much, what is going to anchor you down? When you feel as though you're in the middle of the ocean all by yourself with nothing to help you stay afloat, what is going to bring stability into your life? What will protect you from the turbulent environment that we live in that can sometimes just feel too much to handle. 

We have to find our anchors. 

In Ayurveda, I like to call these my non-negotiables. These are the things that I'm going to do without fail, at the same time each day to keep me afloat, to help me see what is actually happening vs. what my emotions are tricking me into thinking.

When a client has really high vata, one of my first go-to treatments is, anchor in your lunch. Eat lunch at the same time, every single day, no matter what. This idea helps bring some sense of grounding, some sense of predictability, some sense of stability. We can't survive without that feeling of groundedness. 

Find your anchors. 

For me personally, I have a few non-negotiables in my morning practice--breath work, a little body movement, my gratitude journal; these things really help anchor me down and make sure I have the ability to take on my day. Throughout the day, when life is getting crazy, I have a few affirmations that I consistently tell myself:

• This is temporary. 
• This is not a reflection of my character. 
• This is my karma coming to me. 
• This is temporary. 

I root down knowing that whatever chaos I find myself in, ultimately, it's completely temporary. Nothing can last forever in this life. To me, this brings me a little peace. 

I'm not saying that I'm perfect and that I'm 100% of the time able to go back to my anchors, however, when the time comes and I actually do remember, man is it one of the biggest blessings in the world. 

I encourage you to find your anchors. Find what brings you comfort, stability, and a sense of safety. It's one of the biggest gifts you can give yourself! 

much love,
​nishita