This is a meditation for us-ness,
For creating an energetic space that honors deep,
Genuine connection and self-integrity.
So let's begin by taking a big inhale through your nose,
And exhale gently through your mouth.
Again,
Inhale,
And release.
One more time,
Take a slow breath in.
Now bring one hand right to the center of your chest,
And let your mind flicker its awareness to your heart space.
Imagine a soft,
Luminous glow there,
And it rises up.
It's warm and fluid and alive.
This is your capacity to care,
To feel,
To merge,
To empathize,
And to love.
This capacity can contract and it can flex.
So let it expand slightly now with your next inhale in through your nose,
And settle with the next exhale.
Just notice how it can grow and recede.
Now gently become aware of a person in your life that matters to you.
It could be somebody that you are connected to right now in the present or in the past.
No story,
No analysis,
Just become aware of their presence here.
Pay attention to what arises in your body.
Is there an instinct to understand,
To meet or reach out to them,
To back away,
To put up some kind of barrier between you,
To harmonize,
To be distinct?
Just notice,
And let that feeling exist there without changing it or fixing it or judging it.
Let that feeling be acknowledged while also noticing that you can care deeply for that person and also have that feeling or feelings.
Maybe for some of you,
You have all those feelings.
Just again,
Say slightly to yourself,
I can care deeply,
And breathe that in.
Now shift your awareness inward as if you were turning toward yourself with the same care that you extended outward to this person.
And again,
Feel your own energy here,
Feel your own unique expression,
Your direction,
Your steady inner fire,
Your familiar inner wave,
Your grounded inner earth,
Your steady stream of consciousness,
Whatever that part is that knows what is right for you without explanation,
Without permission,
Without convincing,
Let that awareness grow and acknowledge that you can choose yourself fully.
Maybe silently say,
I choose myself fully.
Let the words land,
No rush.
Notice how you can create almost a loop.
Maybe it's like a loop of string or cord or an infinity symbol that is holding both the person you care about deeply and your full self.
You can hold both at once,
The part of you that cares outwardly and the part of you that chooses inwardly.
Notice here that they are not in competition,
They are not in conflict,
They are not in hierarchy,
They can coexist together.
Your heart does not close when you choose yourself,
It becomes clearer,
Cleaner,
Truer.
Breathe that into balance.
And with inhale,
Feel your compassion expand,
Gentle,
Open,
Spaciousness,
And with each exhale,
Feel your integrity fortify,
Steady,
Defined.
You are not losing either connection,
You are refining it here.
In your mind or out loud,
You can repeat slowly,
I care deeply,
I choose myself fully,
I care deeply and choose myself fully without hesitation.
Rest here for a few breaths.
Be here with someone who can hold both other and self,
And when you're ready,
Bring awareness back to your bigger life as you know it body,
The space around you,
The block that you are living on,
The patch of earth that has a name,
And carry this with you.
You do not need to choose between,
And others,
Because you are built for both.
