Reconnecting with the Earth to Combat Modern Challenges

Introduction (ATTENTION STEP): 1. Attention Getter & Audience Adaptation: a. According to 2012 mental health survey by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): i. 30% of college students face problems with school work due to mental health issues ii. 50% of college students struggle with anxiety alone and struggle in a school setting as a result iii. 80% of college students feel overwhelmed by their responsibilities as a student 2. Credibility: a. Personally, these statistics hit a little close to home because I have dropped out of college 4 times. 1. This directly relates to my mental health at the time of attendance. 2. This is my 5th time going to college and my first time completing a full semester. b. Through my own mental health journey, I have discovered grounding. 3. Thesis: a. Standing barefoot in grass, sand, or dirt without shoes for at least 30 minutes a day will decrease symptoms of mental illness. 4. Preview: a. This simple habit can radically change how we view our bodies, how we view the planet Earth, and help us broaden the connection between the two. (TRANSITION: Why do we need to implement “grounding” into our routines?) BODY: 1. First Main Point (NEED STEP): a. As a result of a modern world, we are constantly surrounded by electromagnetic fields due to the heavy technological base to our society. (fields of attraction between positively and negatively charged atoms) i. Examples being cell phone towers, microwaves, wireless routers, satellite TV, etc. ii. These signals are virtually everywhere and are unavoidable unless living completely off the grid. iii. Even then, there are satellite and radio signals through the air. b. Exposure to fields are linked to health issues such as inflammation of the body (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis, etc.) and increased production of cortisol (stress hormone). i. According to a peer review written by Reba Goodman and Martin Blank of the Department of Physiology at Columbia University in 2009, EMFs (electromagnetic fields) trigger cellular stress response, which cause your body to release stress proteins. ii. EMFs create “free radicals” in the body. These atoms have a positive charge since they’re missing electrons. c. As college students, we tend to spend a lot of time around computers, cell phones, radios, etc. that contribute to the production of free radicals in the body. i. We forget or have no time to get outside. ii. Our bodies gradually build up a positive charge and these “free radicals” have a direct correlation to the regulation of our cortisol production. iii. Remind: Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone. (TRANSITION: All of these positively charged atoms floating through your body and increasing your own production of stress-inducing chemicals sounds scary, I know. But, the Earth is there for us, like it always is and here is why.) 2. Second Main Point (SATISFACTION STEP): a. The surface of the Earth is electron-rich. i. In an article about grounding written by Dr. Joseph Mercola in 2018, he quotes an engineer and physicist by the name of Dr. Gaetan Chevalier. Dr. Chevalier explained: a. “Unbeknownst to us, we live inside of a battery. The surface of the Earth is charged negatively and the ionosphere, a layer of atmosphere about 60 miles up, is ionized by the sun. The rays of the sun are so strong that they split the molecules in two, a positive charge and a negative charge.” b. The positively charged ions stay in the air, while the negatively charged ions are transferred to the Earth’s surface through natural events, such as lightening. We are exposed to the positively charged ions and lack exposure to the negatively charged ions. b. Remember that the Earth is electron rich. i. We absorb large amounts of electrons through the soles of our feet and the palms of our hands. 1. These absorbed electrons balance out the positively charged atoms we build up in our body through EMFs. ii. Grounding is linked to the body’s ability to balance stress hormone production rhythm. 1. According to a peer review in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health in 2011, Earth’s negative potential can create a stable internal bioelectrical environment for the normal functioning of all body systems. (TRANSITION: So, to recap, we are all positively charged in a bad way and the Earth is negatively charged in a good way. We can utilize Earth’s negative charge to our advantage by direct contact with the planet’s surface. In modern times, this takes a little bit of effort.) 3. Third Main Point (VISUALIZATION STEP): a. In a slightly less modern era, humans walked barefoot or in shoes made of leather or hide. i. Leather naturally conducts electricity and helps maintain the balance and flow between the soles of your feet and the Earth’s surface. ii. Humans often spent much of their life outdoors, even sleeping. b. In our modern times, we have lost that connection. i. We spend more time indoors unless our careers or lifestyles are directly connected. ii. We wear shoes with mainly rubber soles, which cut the electrical current between us and the Earth. (TRANSITION: Lucky for us, the process of grounding is extremely simple, even today. We all have different routines and lifestyles, but grounding can easily be incorporated.) Conclusion (ACTION STEP): I. II. III. Summary: Let’s face it, mental health issues in college students is on the rise. There are many ways to help support your mind and body while struggling with a mental illness and grounding, in my opinion, is the easiest and most effective. All it takes is 30 minutes, the dirt patch in your backyard, and best of all it doesn’t even require shoes! Call to Action: Alan W. Watts once said “You didn’t come into this world. You came out of it, like a wave from the ocean. You are not a stranger here.” a. Today, I implore you all to put your phone down, take off your shoes, and spend at least 30 minutes outside with your bare feet in the grass. End with Impact: a. Who knows the impact that human reconnection to the planet could do for our health as a society? b. Let us be the pioneers. c. Thank you, and happy grounding!