Hello and welcome to this brief meditation focused on self-compassion imagery.
Let's take a few moments,
Getting settled in,
To focus on our breathing.
Taking a nice deep breath in Welcoming yourself to your practice today.
And as you breathe out,
Steadily guide yourself forward.
Continuing the breath.
Inhaling.
.
.
And exhaling a bit more slowly each time.
What does self-compassion mean to you?
Does it look like giving grace,
Allowing empathy for yourself?
Maybe observing yourself without judgment.
Take a moment to describe it to yourself.
What might it look like to give yourself compassion when you need it most?
Imagine a color that resembles compassion to you.
Can we envision this color surrounding you?
Notice an endless supply of this color available to you.
Self-compassion is always an option until we tell ourselves it's not.
For we are the source.
Only we can take it away.
Maybe you notice how often it feels taken from you.
Imagine the color you chose for compassion washing over your hands.
Place a hand to your heart.
As you inhale.
Breathing in the opportunity of care you are offering yourself.
Be present with this vulnerability.
It is powerful.
A source of motivation even,
If we still allow it.
Let's imagine breathing.
As if it were waves on a shore.
Inhaling the current in.
Towards the sea.
And exhaling the water out onto the sand.
If any judgments or negative beliefs come forward.
Imagine them written in the sand.
The water has turned the color you chose for your self-compassion.
Take in a nice deep breath,
Pulling forces of the water towards yourself.
And exhale as a wave reaches the sand,
Washing over the negativity written,
Leaving no trace behind.
Continue this imagery.
Noticing your inner strength speaking louder than any negative assumption about you.
These are judgments.
Not facts.
Think about a quality of yours that means something to you.
Is it kindness?
Perseverance optimism.
Your humor.
Your ability to adapt.
Notice any qualities as buoys out in the water of compassion.
No matter the weather,
They are present.
Before and after any storm,
They will remain.
Notice these.
They are signals when you aren't sure where to turn.
You likely know yourself better than you think you do.
The more buoys out in the water.
The more direction we feel.
The more grounded in ourselves we are.
We observe what is already good in us and challenge judgments as they arise.
We do not disqualify the positives.
In our identity.
Take another deep breath in.
And let it out slowly You are worthy of compassion.
Please return back to this meditation anytime you feel you have lost your way or need additional compassion.
Take care
