How to Make Your Own Grounding Box

If you’ve ever had one of those days where you feel scattered or overwhelmed, or just not quite like yourself as you are in process of deconstructing or leaving your religion, and you don’t really know what to do to come back, this might help.

Because one of the quieter losses in that process is that you don’t always have a built-in way to reset anymore. There’s no clear moment to pause, no structure that tells you how to get grounded again. You’re left figuring out what actually helps you feel like yourself, on your own terms.

This is one small thing that’s been helping me.

I keep a small box on a shelf in my living room. It doesn’t look like much, and most people probably wouldn’t notice it. But when I open it, I can feel an immediate shift (and possible squeal...it never ceases to make me giddy with delight).

I’ve started calling it a grounding box, mostly because that’s the closest way I can describe what it does. And I want to share with you how you can make your own--not as a new system to perfect or as a way of doing it "right" but a tangible way of reconnecting to yourself. Something you can reach for when you have a hard conversation with your family who are still believers, or when your mind is spinning, or when you just want to hear yourself a little more clearly.

Choosing Your Grounding Box Container

You don’t need a whole room or even need a corner, though if you want to, you can read this post to get inspiration. But if you want something small, simple, and easy to reach for, think about using a:

• wooden box (I got mine at Michael's)
• pouch
• drawer
• jar

The container itself doesn’t matter very much as much as having something you can easily reach for when you need it. Because learning to ask yourself, What do I need right now? is one of the most important questions to start asking yourself after leaving religion. 

What to Include 

When it comes to what goes inside, this is where things might feel unfamiliar at first. If you’ve spent years being told what things mean, what matters, and how to do things the “right way,” it can feel strange to choose something just because it feels good to you.

So instead of asking what should go in here, try asking, What actually helps me feel like myself?

You might include things that:

• Ground you when your thoughts start spiraling
• Remind you of who you are
• Help you feel safe in your body
• Bring a sense of comfort or even a little joy

That could look like:

• A stone or object you like the feel of
• A photo that reminds you of a version of you that felt free
• A word or phrase that feels true to you now
• Something from nature that reminds you life moves in cycles
• A piece of jewelry or object that makes you feel powerful

There’s no right combination. The point isn’t to create something meaningful in a universal sense; it’s to choose things that feel meaningful to you.

Making Your own Grounding Box

A simple way to reconnect back to yourself

Time: 10–20 minutes (or longer if you want)
Supplies: A small container + a few meaningful objects
Purpose: To help you reconnect with yourself when you feel off, overwhelmed, or disconnected

Materials Needed:

• 1 box, pouch, or small container you can keep nearby
• A few items that feel calming, steadying, or familiar
• A word, phrase, or note that feels true to you right now
• Optional: something from nature, a photo, or a small object you like to hold

Instructions:

1. Choose a container that feels easy to reach for, something that fits into your everyday life.
2. Decorate it as you'd like (optional). I created a scene that means something to me for my box by glueing miniature doll house items found at my local craft store.
3. Add a few items that help you feel more like yourself. Don’t overthink it, start with what feels comforting or familiar.
4. Keep it somewhere visible or accessible, so it’s there when you need it.

How to Use:

Open it when you when you feel disconnected or when you can’t quite hear yourself clearly. Let it be a place to pause and come back to yourself. 

Notes:

And like everything else in this process, what goes inside your Grounding Box will change. There are times when something no longer feels like it fits--take it out! Other times, you might want to add something new--add to it! Try not to overthink it. It’s less about maintaining it the “right” way and more about letting it reflect where you actually are.

 SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER ⤵︎

Remember: This isn’t about creating a new practice to replace the one you left. It’s just something small you can reach for when you want to reconnect with yourself again. Let it be a reminder that you don’t have to follow anything or get it right.

You just get to come back to yourself, in your own way.