The Steady Power of Stability – Lessons from Bison and the Human Heart
I sat down this morning to meditate with my sweetheart and immediately she could tell something was off. Ever have those times when you don’t feel like yourself, but you don’t take time to notice until someone points it out?
That was me.
Pausing because of her gentle inquiry, “How are you this morning?” Helped me realize that I didn’t feel grounded.
In a world where change is the norm, where extreme advances in most arenas (both beneficial and not) is accelerating, I am finding myself treasuring stability.
Stability is something I’ve found to be a powerful force for resilience, growth and life-leadership.
When I think about stability, I take my cue (once more) from the mighty bison.
Bison: A Living Metaphor for Stability
Bison are built to stand strong and true, to be balanced within all types of environments and all sorts of weather. Their massive frames, low centers of gravity, and thick hides help them withstand fierce winters and harsh terrain. When threatened, they don’t always flee—they stand their ground. They stay stable.
Additionally, bison are not solitary giants. They move as herds, forming protective circles around their young, following wise matriarchs, and they embody a calm, collective intelligence. Their strength is both personal and communal.
I turn to the bison once more to remind us that stability is not just sturdy stillness. Stability is a function of being grounded – connected to the ground under our feet and to other critical individuals in our herd. Stability is basic to living effectively. It gives us the capacity to access the best inside us and to gain momentum.
Why Does Lyn Use a Bison Metaphor?
I turn to this huge creature for inspiration and to act as a totem. In my book Soul Salt Your Personal Field g Guide to Confidence, Purpose and Fulfillment, I talk about how symbols, memes, totems and the like increase our positive emotions and support us to cope and deal with hard things.
I turn to the bison because they are a living, breathing example that says, “We don’t have to live in a constant state of reactivity. When we stabilize ourselves and our communities, we unlock numerous treasures.”
Let me list just five of these:
- Emotional clarity – Less reactivity, more peace.
- Confidence and self-trust – You know what matters, and you live it.
- Stronger relationships – Stability builds trust and deepens bonds.
- Energy for growth – When life isn’t in constant crisis, creativity blooms.
- Better decisions – From a calm center, you make clearer, values-aligned choices.
By now, you might be wondering how to gain the stability of the Bison. And I’d like to share three ways to steady yourself on stable ground:
Grounding Rituals
Simple habits like morning journaling or quiet walks, meditation or spiritual practices can create emotional anchors. These anchors help your body know: I’m safe. I’m steady.
Clarify Your Core Values
Know your values and allow them to guide your choices. When we are clear on what we believe, we stop drifting and start leading our life with intention. With clear, authentic values we can say “Hell yes!” to true priorities and “Hell no!” to the fluff and distraction.
Build Supportive Structures
Budgeting our finances, planning our weeks and days, putting boundaries into place—these aren’t limitations, they’re liberations. Structures offer strength and reduce friction. They help us meet our needs, feel self-efficacy and allow space to find clarity in purpose and priorities.
Once we’ve worked to reinforce our own sense of self and stability, here are three ways to stabilize within our community.
Three Ways to Stabilize Within Community
- Foster Your Own Sense of Belonging
Create for yourself a space of psychological safety or retreat to such spaces. Find yourself frequenting coffee shops, meet-ups, gatherings, etc. where people feel seen and heard. - Share Resources and Wisdom
Whether it’s food, information, or time, shared support strengthens the whole. One person’s steadiness becomes everyone’s benefit. Where do you have extra or enough so you can give to another? Who needs your wisdom? How can you share your gifts and talents? Find out, then go give. - Lead with Consistency and Compassion
Be the one you can count on. Be your own best advocate. Be your own best support. Once we know how that feels, we can better show up for the world. Take that walk when you need it. Exercise when you’ve planned to. Eat well and nourish yourself. Then show up with compassion and consistency to be part of a group who needs and wants your contribution.
I would love to know how you’re taking the thoughts I’m sharing in these guideposts and moving them to action.
Please drop a line at info@soulsalt.com and let us know. Or comment over on the SoulSalt Inc. IG profile.
My Final Thought:
Stability isn’t rigidity—it’s resilience. It’s the ability to stand your ground when you need to. It is your ability to stand with others when we need you.
It requires that we bend without breaking, to hold fast to what matters, and to walk through change without losing our center.
