Sometimes life asks for a lot.
There are people to look after,
Responsibilities to manage,
Work to get through,
And things that always seem to need our attention.
And somewhere along the way,
We can forget about ourselves.
We keep giving,
Even when we're feeling exhausted.
This short meditation is an opportunity just to stop for a few minutes.
Not to fix everything,
But simply to give yourself some of the care and attention you've been giving everyone else.
Find yourself somewhere comfortable.
You can sit or lie down.
And if you're comfortable doing so,
Just gently close your eyes.
Take a slow breath in.
And gently breathe out.
Take another breath.
Now think forth.
Nothing you need to change.
Just breathing at your own pace.
Now begin to notice how you're feeling.
Not how you think you should be feeling.
But how you are actually feeling right now.
Perhaps you're tired.
Perhaps your mind has been busy.
Maybe you've been carrying responsibilities for so long that you've forgotten what it feels like to stop.
Whatever you're experiencing,
See if you can allow it to be here.
Sometimes we become so focused on what everyone else needs that we forget to ask ourselves a simple question.
How am I doing?
So take a moment now to ask yourself that question.
How am I really doing?
You don't need to come up with an answer.
Just notice what comes up.
Perhaps there's some physical tiredness.
Maybe there's tension in your shoulders,
Your jaw,
Or your stomach.
Or maybe an emotion you've been pushing aside because you've been too busy to deal with it.
See if you can make a little room for whatever is there.
Now,
Bring your attention back to your breathing.
Notice the gentle movement of your body as you breathe in.
And as you breathe out.
For these next few moments,
Nobody needs anything from you.
There's nowhere else you need to be,
Nothing you need to achieve.
You can simply be here.
And perhaps remind yourself that your needs matter too.
You can care deeply about other people and still need time for yourself.
You can love what you do and still feel exhausted.
You can be grateful for your life and still need a break.
These things can exist together.
See if you can soften a little.
Maybe relax your shoulders.
And then let go.
And clench your jaw.
Allow your hands to rest.
Just give your body permission to settle if it wants to.
And for a moment,
Imagine offering yourself the same kindness and patience you would offer to someone that you care about.
No judgment.
No expectations.
Just a little understanding.
Take one more gentle breath in and slowly breathe out.
And as we come towards the end of this meditation.
Remember that taking care of yourself doesn't mean you care any less about others.
You have needs too and you don't have to wait until you're completely exhausted before giving yourself permission to rest.
Perhaps today you can find one small moment that's just for you.
Nothing complicated.
Just a moment to stop.
Breathe.
And check in with yourself.
And when you're ready,
Gently open your eyes.
And continue with your day.
