October Roots: Inspiration & Insights to Get Rooted in Your Beliefs & Actions
Tools & reflections around how to mindfully navigate tech, media & modern life
This feeling has been brewing for a while now, but especially within the past year, I’ve found the task of staying rooted and true to myself more and more confusing—mostly because everything and everyone seems to be virtually yelling each other about what we should be doing, saying, eating, avoiding; how we should behave or react; etc etc.
These feelings and reflections also tie into the undercurrent of technology that floods almost every aspect of our lives—whether through simple communication, news and social media, or memes. Honestly not always mad about memes—or recipes like these.
When it comes to sharing and consuming information around wellness, beliefs, science, and current events, I know I am not the only one who has been feeling a bit frazzled, discouraged, confused, and occasionally bulldozed by it all.
This has left me—and a few others I’ve spoken with—at a crossroads of To Speak or Not To Speak. It’s prompted a lot of inner inquiry around what I value, why I share or consume certain things, and whether I should toss my devices into the Mediterranean and communicate via Harry Potter Owl or smoke signals.
But since I do live in the modern world and do want to share (and still love a good meme), this reflection is my way of exploring how I can reroute and re-root my body, my mind, and my relationship with tech / media / communication to find a balance that works—including a balanced headspace from which to share and consume from.
As to how to do this without overthinking…I’ll get back to you. Till then, meditate ;)
TL;DR: Scroll to the end for final takeaways.
Re-rooting
Why is all of this tied to being rooted? Think of a tree: Its roots provide stability as the tree grows and expands; they absorb and distribute nutrients for the health of the tree; they are even a means of communication through a brilliant underground mycorrhizal network (watch Fantastic Fungi!).
When we’re rooted in ourselves, we’re more stable and resilient in body and mind; we communicate more clearly, make more nourishing choices, and often feel more free.
Roots also need favorable soil conditions to flourish as the seasons shift, which we can relate to creating the internal and external conditions that help to sustain our personal roots. This comes from habits and practices we add to or eliminate from our daily routines—whether it’s a form of self-care or self-discipline (often interrelated).
Per the exploration of this post: Being highly influenced by our environment and surroundings can obviously create a strong sense of un-rootedness. This makes it imperative to cultivate a sense of groundedness in ourselves before we discern if and how we engage, if we do in fact share the same perspective as others, etc.
Because I’m a sensitive lil’ Aquarian—and have supported both yoga and coaching clients through similar sensitivities—I’ve written a lot about working with un-rooted experiences like emotional overwhelm, cultivating stability in uncertain or intense times, safely expressing feelings, and regulating a wired-and-tired nervous system.
See also: Yoga and movement, meditation and mindfulness, breathwork, nourishing food, nature, journaling and reflecting, pillow or underwater screams (recommend both), community connection (hugs!), giggles, art, rest, etc etc.
All that said, I’m still sometimes struggling with—and therefore investigating—how to create rooted conditions for my body and mind in ways that help me stay healthily informed with current events, communicate clearly and effectively, and consume content intentionally (even if the intention is memes).
Because while many of us may occasionally fantasize about living off the grid, being rooted doesn’t necessarily mean shutting yourself off from the world. For me, it’s more so about staying connected without getting completely lost or depleted by the noisy noise—finding your unique balance between engagement and stillness.
P.S. If you’re thinking: She meditates and does yoga, shouldn’t she be chill?, then I raise you: I study, teach, and practice meditation and yoga because I often struggle to feel chill :)
Rooted Support
On that note: A few recent articles and podcast episodes have helped me feel seen and supported amid the ongoing catastrophic current of headlines, content on content on content (even memes), and often volatile social commentary.
These voices have offered both useful information and practical insights—even a little bit of laughter to boot, which I find truly and unequivocally medicinal.
They’ve inspired me to continue cultivating a sense of rootedness in myself and my lifestyle, to pause before reacting both online and in person (especially when I can’t tell if I’m doing “enough”), to process and participate in the best ways I know how, and to anchor myself before engaging.
My hope is to empower you with applicable tools to observe clearly and turn inward, which can help cultivate a sense of mind-body rootedness in what we do and say; in how we act and choose to live.
Trigger warning: Some of this may challenge some beliefs or emotions, but I’m sincerely wondering if there is anything that isn’t triggering these days? Do you and take care of yourself!
Bring the Light
This episode resonated with me, and I always love Jenna’s grounded POV.
Episode Description:
It’s key right now to discern the line between being fully awake to where our world is at and letting it create an IV drip of emotional stimulation in our bodies all day along. Between talking about things and feeling them in our bodies so that we can process them. We HAVE to prioritise processing as much as possible right now because otherwise there will be too much weight keeping us down…
-Jenna Zoe
Hijacked Health: When Wellness Gets Political with Dr. Jolene Brighten
I really appreciated this open and curious discussion on conflict-inducing topics.
Episode Description:
In this unfiltered conversation, Jeff sits down with Dr. Jolene Brighten to unpack the strange new landscape of health, personal freedom, and institutional mistrust. They explore why questioning big food and pharma now gets labeled “Conservative,” how cancel culture has fractured meaningful dialogue, and what it means to stay rooted in your values when the culture around you shifts.
Brené Brown’s go-to strategy for managing fear
has great content on modern mindfulness inspired by ancient wisdom, especially with his background in news media and reporting from war zones.And I remember Brené Brown once sharing in her podcast about the importance of having conversations with people we disagree with in order to see each other more clearly, even if we still disagree (or at least that was my helpful takeaway!).
Takeaway Quote:
Sure, anxiety and fear can serve their purpose: fear can get us out of danger; anxiety can push us to prepare. But left unchecked, these emotions can curdle into reactivity...
-Dan Harris re: his conversation with Brené Brown
We Are Losing the Information War with Ourselves
This post by Sam Harris is a bit intense, but I recommend staying open to reading it in its short yet powerful entirety.
Takeaway Quote:
Social media amplifies extreme views as though they were representative of most Americans, and many of us are losing our sense of what other people are really like. Many seem completely unaware that their hold on reality is being steadily undermined by what they are seeing online, and that the business models of these platforms, as well as the livelihoods of countless “influencers,” depend on our continuing to gaze, and howl, into the digital abyss.
Get off social media.
Read good books and real journalism.
Find your friends.
And enjoy your life.
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Vulnerability hangover incoming.
I so appreciate Jameela’s gift of making an interesting read out of an emotional topic, with a humor sprinkled in there to boot. Recommend reading through this a few times.
Takeaway Quote:
The sadness of what has happened to this world I love so much is pulling me under. We don’t need to fight to win it back. We need to love ourselves, the planet, each other and the quality of life more to win…
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The offensiveness of group-speak
This deeply insightful article was shared with me by 1st yoga mentor and friend, Anya.
Takeaway Quote:
If hatred is always your go-to explanation for differences of opinion, you risk lacking the mental range to consider what might have shaped someone’s views. Rather than viewing disagreement as a natural outcome of differing values and perceptions, all you see is moral failing, which then colours everything you encounter.
…A general rule I live by: if I can’t explain a topic in my own words, I don’t understand it well enough to speak on it publicly.
It’s a simple test, but a revealing one, especially in an online culture that rewards immediacy over reflection. Before posting, ask yourself: are there any thoughts or feelings I have about this that didn’t come from a viral post?
If the answer is no, that might be a sign to pause, not because you’re not allowed to have an opinion, but because you owe your voice the courtesy of making it your own.
…When all is said and done, it’s our words that remain with others. So we might as well make sure they’re honest—words that reflect who we are in full, not just the trends of the time we lived through.
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On structures, the Dhamma & basic goodness
Sean Oakes is my former Insight Meditation teacher training mentor, who I still follow for insights and Buddhism-meets-modern-day inspiration.
Takeaway Quote:
Everything feels unstable and evolving day by day, which can be simultaneously both true and disorienting. We may have a strong felt sense of the truth of impermanence and still be thrown off our center as social structures we have taken for granted are shaken or uprooted. Structures come and go, and are strengthened or weakened by our actions and the actions of others. In our practice we want to build an internal structure that is more stable than the external structures we habitually rely on. Those internal structures are our views and intentions—hopefully wise—and the commitments, accountability, and relationships we live in…
It’s imperative that we actually believe in something, and that we don’t live in an ironic distance from the world where everything is message, meme, and tactic. The Buddha said that the Dhamma “goes against the stream” of conventional culture exactly because it does not uplift greed and hatred as normal, acceptable motivations for action. We can have more wholesome values, though anyone who does feels immediately how against the stream they are.
There is a deeper stream coursing through humanity, and it gets less money and news coverage, but is always there if you look. People’s basic goodness can be felt everywhere, and a deep kindness for each other. And where this deep goodness flows like nourishing water, wise view can take root and grow.
Other helpful people & resources
David Ghiyam: Podcast linking ancient spiritual wisdom to modern life
Jack Kornfield: Insight Meditation x Buddhism x psychology x conscious activism
Nikki Costello: Iyengar Yoga virtual classes—weekly movement and spiritual Rx
Good Hang: Amy Poehler’s podcast—weekly laughter Rx
Meee: Holistic Lifestyle Coaching, Meditation and Yoga
Final takeaways
Be good to yourselves and others.
Get to know yourself and others. Consider what you believe in and why; stay curious when others believe and / or behave differently.
Reflect on the Sufi saying: “Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?”
Get curious about Buddhism’s Right Speech / Sammā Vācā: Speaking truthfully and avoiding “malicious talk,” harsh words, and “idle chatter.”
Be willing to have difficult and conflicting conversations. Be open to approaching them with as much awareness, curiosity, compassion, and clarity as possible.
Stand up for what you believe in when you feel grounded and clear, in ways that feel the most rooted and accessible—even if it feels a little scary to speak out.
Don’t feel guilty if you’re not standing up or speaking out in the same ways that others are. People have different and unique ways of actualizing activism—online or offline; in their personal daily lives or within their communities.
Stay informed and set media boundaries; read good news, too. Let the information you learn inform how you want to live and the type of person you want to be.
Remember that triggers happen. We can choose how we act / react and respond.
Don’t sit back passively and do absolutely nothing, but don’t act out of pressure or guilt. Do act with consciousness, intention, and as much compassion as possible.
Take time away from phones and devices. Step away from technology when you can and reconnect with yourself, others, animals, nature. Cook, dance, write, garden, make something with your hands, create and experience art, be offline.
Laugh and be silly when you can along the way.
Any of this resonate?
Contact me for 1:1 coaching support, or reach out with questions / comments / memes.
Take good care,
S
So many good resources here! Can't wait to dive into them all, thank you for curating <3