Welcome,
Wherever you are right now,
You've made space to pause,
To breathe,
To come back to yourself.
This is a meditation for anyone who's been carrying more than they need to,
For anyone who feels responsible for someone else's pain,
Healing,
Or approval.
Take a moment,
Find a comfortable seat.
It could be on a chair with your feet resting on the floor or a cushion with your legs crossed.
Adjust your posture so your spine is straight but relaxed and your shoulders can drop away from your ears.
If you're lying down,
Let your body rest heavy against the surface beneath you.
When you're ready,
Gently close your eyes,
If that feels safe,
Or soften your gaze.
Feel the points of contact between your body and the ground or chair.
Notice the weight of your body being held by the earth.
Allow yourself to settle here.
Begin to let your breath drop low into your body,
A little slower,
A little deeper.
Inhale and exhale.
Again,
Inhale and exhale.
There's no rush here.
Begin to notice where you're holding tension.
Is it in your shoulders,
Your stomach?
Is it in your jaw?
With each breath,
Imagine your body softening.
Let gravity support you.
You don't have to hold everything so tightly,
Not right now.
As we move through this meditation,
You are invited to gently release the urge to fix,
To manage,
Or to rescue.
You are not abandoning anyone.
You are returning to yourself.
Now,
Bring to mind a situation or relationship where you felt overly responsible,
Or someone else's needs,
Moods,
Or decisions have pulled you off center.
It may be a person you care deeply about,
Or a pattern that keeps repeating.
Notice how that connection feels in your body.
Is it tight,
Maybe heavy,
Or even foggy?
Now imagine a soft,
Golden cord between you and that person or situation.
Not a chain,
A cord,
One that has formed over time.
Now,
Imagine yourself gently loosening that cord,
Not cutting it,
Just loosening,
Allowing more space,
More breath,
More you.
You are still loving.
You are still compassionate,
But you are no longer responsible for their emotions or choices.
You can say,
Softly in your mind,
I release what is not mine to carry.
Their path is not mine to control.
I am allowed to care without collapsing.
Repeat those words slowly as you breathe.
I release what is not mine to carry.
Their path is not mine to control.
I am allowed to care without collapsing.
Let your breath settle again.
Feel your feet on the ground.
Your body supported by the earth beneath you.
You are still connected,
But you are free.
You may choose to return to this practice whenever you notice the old pull,
The need to fix,
To manage,
To lose yourself for someone else.
You are allowed to love from a distance,
To let others face their own consequences,
To let yourself live.
When you're ready,
Begin to wiggle your fingers and toes.
Gently open your eyes.
Come back to the present.
You are not alone.
You are not broken,
And you are not responsible for saving anyone but yourself.
Take one last breath in,
And let it go,
And remember,
I am able to set boundaries,
I am able to let go,
And I am able to love myself.
