Hi,
It's Danny and welcome back to Stillness in the Storm,
Session 2.
It's great to have you back.
Today we're going to explore something that doesn't get talked about enough.
How to stay present whilst still being strong.
How to feel without losing yourself.
And how to meet yourself honestly without the mask.
This session is about mindful masculinity.
Not some ideal of what a man should be,
But an invitation to come home to who you already are.
Session 2.
This session is called Masculinity and Mindfulness.
For many of us,
We've been raised to value control,
Action and logic and to leave emotion,
Softness or stillness behind.
But presence isn't soft,
It's solid.
It's the thing that grounds us when life shakes.
This is a space to slow down,
To tune in and remember that strength and stillness aren't opposites,
They're partners.
Let's begin.
I invite you to find a position that feels steady and relaxed.
You might want to sit upright,
Cross-legged or lie down on your back.
Let your arms rest naturally on your legs,
Your chest or by your sides.
And when ready,
Gently close your eyes or soften your gaze towards the floor.
Let's begin with three grounding breaths.
Take a slow,
Steady inhale through the nose.
Hold it gently.
And exhale through the mouth.
Again,
Inhale,
Holding at the top.
And exhale through the mouth.
One last time.
Inhale,
Holding at the top.
And exhale through the mouth.
Let your breath find its natural rhythm.
No need to force,
Just follow the flow.
Now begin to bring your awareness into the body.
Start at the top of your head.
Bring your attention to the forehead.
Feel the space around your eyes.
Notice your jaw.
Is it holding tension?
If so,
Let it soften slightly.
Now move to your neck and throat.
Let them loosen.
You don't need to speak,
Explain or hold anything upright now.
Bring your awareness to your shoulders.
Let them drop away from the ears.
And let them feel a little heavier.
Now scan through your arms.
Upper arms.
Elbows.
Forearms.
Hands.
Fingers.
Let them soften.
Let them be still.
Now gently shift your awareness to your chest.
Feel the rise and fall of the breath.
Let it move freely.
No need to control it.
Feel it in the heart space.
No need to do anything with it.
Just notice it.
Now down into your belly.
Let it soften.
Let go of the need to brace or grip.
Let the breath move all the way down.
Notice.
And bring your focus to your hips.
Your thighs.
Be aware of any tightness or holding.
And if so,
Soften the muscles around the hips and legs.
Even just a little.
Move down to the knees.
Then the shins and calves.
Into the ankles.
And the tops of your feet.
Down through the soles and into the toes.
Pause there for a moment.
Feel the entire body from head to toe.
Held.
Supported.
Nothing to fix.
Just to feel.
Now bring your attention back to the breath.
This time,
Let the breath carry a gentle message.
As you breathe in,
Silently say,
I am.
And as you breathe out,
Enough.
As you breathe in,
I am.
Exhale.
Enough.
Let that rhythm settle in.
Let those words mean whatever they need for you today.
You don't need to earn your place here.
You don't need to hold it all together in this moment.
You can just be.
If your mind drifts,
Gently return back to the breath.
Back to the words.
I am.
Masculinity isn't something you need to prove.
It's something you already carry.
In your awareness.
Your honesty.
Your presence.
There is real strength in choosing stillness.
Let's rest in that strength for just a little longer.
Slowly begin to bring some movement back to the body.
Gently wiggle your fingers and toes.
Rolling the shoulders.
Take one final deep breath in.
I am.
Exhale.
Enough.
When you're ready,
Open your eyes.
You showed up.
You breathed.
You listened.
And that's more than enough.
Thank you for being here.
I'll see you in the next session.
