What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word “grounded”? Perhaps you hear a parent saying to a teenager, “You are so grounded, young man!” Or maybe you think of a ship running aground, as in, “The captain of the Costa Concordia grounded the ship on the rocks off Tuscany.” But grounded also means well balanced and sensible — someone who has a good understanding of what is important in life. It also means someone who is mentally and emotionally stable — admirably sensible, realistic, and unpretentious. Does that sound like you? If not, why not?
Many of us walk around everyday exhibiting traits and behaviors that are not very “grounded.” You may not even realize it. But start focusing on the people around you whom you admire, and look for the traits I described. Can you identify the traits of a grounded person in them? And is it those traits that make them good leaders who make good decisions, and give them a deep understanding of what is (and isn’t) important? Now, turn back to yourself. Are there any missing traits of a grounded person in you? If so, the first step towards improvement is acknowledging the areas of life in which we are not grounded. After this, we can work on building those traits so that we can become a person that others look up to.