We all have different perspectives of what wellness could entail but let’s not fool ourselves, it is not just a simple healthy meal and a workout plan.

It is more than physical health – yes, your body should be looking snatched from the greens – but it should also be about mental and emotional health, together with your physical health. These elements go hand in hand. Healthy body? Healthy mind. Prioritising oneself is more essential than losing yourself in the midst of it all. But, what keeps you sane in the world of chaos? What makes you, you?

In this world of fiasco where everything feels fast and overwhelming, there is always beauty behind finding peace and solace within ourselves. Something we can run back to, to basically keep us sane is essential. But, what is that something for you? What makes you grounded?

What does being Grounded mean?

Before diving deep, what does being grounded mean? What is it to be grounded? Well, being grounded is subjective and personal and can be explored differently. At its core, being grounded means being connected, deeply rooted and just being present for yourself and surroundings. Being intact with your feelings, having a clear head, keeping fit and finding a sense of purpose in your space is the fundamentality of a good, meaningful life.

It might look different for everyone, ranging from something simple like a silent and slow morning to gather your thoughts, to having a full routine of self-care. The little things in between that spectrum could look like a glass of wine while journaling with lo-fi music in the background or, it could be the most out-of-the-ordinary things like getting a sense of sun-drenched calmness after having a smoke in the backyard on a sunny afternoon.

Lessons from the mothers of music and spirituality

Even the most iconic celebrities are human too and they need these simple hacks we usually all assimilate into when we feel like everything gets too much- because to be frank, they are not robots.

We can sing and write like the mothers of spirituality in music. We can let such carry us like Erykah Badu or Lauryn Hill. They emphasise wellness and, their aura just screams getting close to oneself, one with the universe, one with the creator and they express that through their music.

Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill speak to being closer to spirituality and God. Moreover, they believe in self-improvement and blocking the noise, they make themselves and the thing they believe in the element that grounds them and the home they run to.

In a 2000 interview, Lauryn Hill shared: ‘We got it all wrong, we glorify ourselves but we should glorify God first, in turn you get glorified.’ She also acknowledges the power of silence: ‘Of late God has shown me that … you know, just be quiet, be still. Because I feel like I just always had to expound.’

She found what grounded her and she always seems to refer to a higher source. For Lauryn, it’s God. It could be journaling or walking for someone else. This is still completely on the spectrum of wellness.

Also known as Badula Oblingada, Sara Bellum and She Ill, our spiritual momma, Erykah Badu also shows us a different side of things.

She mentions 10 things she can’t live without on the GQ interview. Some of them were shockingly random but, she has personalised them to be sacred and shaped these items into her persona and to make her feel superior. Things like her All-Star Converse trainers, her grills, her amulets, and Talismans.

The point is it could be the biggest of celebrities or most random person seated next to you in a queue. We all have a fix, a coping mechanism to deal with anxieties and finding balance is completely personal – it does not have to make sense to anyone but you.

What does it mean for us? Outside of the fame and music?

With different lives from our stars, the leverage for us is that there is no external pressure from the media. We live mediocre, simple and almost normal lives. We do not need to respond to our followers, we do not need to be summoned for interviews. We can just disappear from social media and gather ourselves without being asked why.

To bring it closer to home, how do we find ground in our own lives? Well, some say family and relationships. They could be the core elements for you too. Being in touch with the people who love you; how you express your love to each other can remind you of your values and, give you a reason to live again. Doing something that brings you ease and brings you a sense of relief, in turn drives you to forget about your problems and to put your mind into it. Something you can run to after having a strenuous day. Finding something to look forward to, something to make you feel connected to yourself again.

Like Lauryn and Erykah, you too can find something that drives you and help you recentre yourself. There are the same exact techniques on the internet as in this article on ways to find good distractions. Despite the strategies, this piece is to be used as a think-piece and to help us realise what we find peace in, to make us acknowledge the little things we take for granted when they are in fact the very thing that keeps us sane.

It could be your morning routine for you or calling your mom. Journaling to figure your feelings and emotions in words, yoga to release the tension stored in your body, and walking as a mechanism to ‘let go.’

For some it could just be having a big laugh with friends or being surrounded by people. Some people’s anchors are centered around faith and spirituality. These things might seem small, but they could turn your day or even your entire week around.

Erykah aka Badula Oblingada personalised the most random things- but sacred to her- and that is the beauty of it all, shaping things to match yourself and making them speak volumes that would make people go: ‘That is so you.’

Nounouche Contributor: Kamogelo Mathebula