Stories can give us a way to talk about what feels uncertain. Think of the wonder of an eclipse, and the stories people tell to make sense of an unfamiliar experience.
Here, grounding means turning attention toward the present. A story made from simple, true statements is one way to try that.
Some people use sensory objects or activities as part of their coping practices. Storytelling offers another possible starting point, without needing a special object. Different approaches can feel different for each person.
In Mockingjay, the final book of The Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta carry the pain of what they have lived through. Katniss uses simple statements about herself and her situation. Her words offer a fictional illustration of this idea:
“My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am seventeen years old. My home is District 12. I was in the Hunger Games. I escaped. The Capitol hates me.”
It is a shortened story of her present. A fictional scene can invite reflection, but it does not establish how a practice will work for someone else.
If you want to try this, begin with a simple fact about the present: your name, where you are, or something you can see.
Start with facts that feel comfortable to name. You do not have to move toward painful memories or difficult material on your own. If the exercise feels distressing, pause; a counselor can help you consider what fits your needs.
Acceptance can take time, and an exercise does not guarantee it.
There may still be room to imagine a new story of the future and hope, even while the present feels difficult.
Written by Mea McMahon, LPC
