Hi everyone.
Welcome and thank you for joining me today.
My name is Shannon.
I'm a certified mindfulness teacher,
A Reiki energy healer,
And a mental health advocate.
My pronouns are she and her.
I'm coming to you from Campbell River British Columbia,
Canada,
And I acknowledge that this is the unceded traditional territory of the Ligwilda people,
The Wee-Way-Kai,
The Wee-Way-Cum,
And the Kaweka First Nations.
Thank you for allowing us to reside and thrive here.
Let's begin.
I invite you to find a comfortable position.
This may be setting up or lying down.
Whatever feels most comfortable for you at this moment.
Please gently close your eyes and bring your attention to your breath.
Take a few deep breaths here.
In through your nose and exhale out through your mouth,
Allowing yourself to settle into the present moment.
Begin to focus on your breath,
Feeling the sensation of the air entering and leaving your body.
Let go of any thoughts or distractions and be present with your breath.
Now I invite you to bring your attention to your heart center.
Place your hand over your heart as a gesture of self-compassion.
Remind yourself that you are here to cultivate love,
Kindness,
And understanding toward yourself.
Now I invite you to begin to repeat the following phrases silently to yourself or out loud.
I am deserving of love and compassion.
I am deserving of love and compassion.
I am worthy of self-care and understanding.
I am worthy of self-care and understanding.
I acknowledge my imperfections and treat myself with gentleness and grace.
I acknowledge my imperfections and treat myself with gentleness and grace.
I am enough just as I am.
I am enough just as I am.
Notice any resistance or discomfort that arises as you say these phrases.
Embrace those feelings with compassion,
Recognizing that feeling vulnerable or uncertain is completely okay.
Continue repeating the phrases,
Allowing their positive energy to fill your heart.
I am deserving of love and compassion.
I am worthy of self-care and understanding.
I acknowledge my imperfections and treat myself with gentleness and grace.
I am enough just as I am.
Now I invite you to shift your focus to your breath once again.
As you breathe in,
Imagine you're inhaling a warm and comforting light.
As you breathe out,
Release any self criticism or judgment.
Let the light of compassion wash over you.
Now I invite you to recall a moment when you were going through a difficult time or felt overwhelmed.
Picture yourself in that situation,
Experiencing it with all of your senses.
Acknowledge the pain or struggle you felt and remind yourself that you were doing the best you could at that moment.
You were doing the best you could at that moment.
You were doing the best you could at that moment.
Now visualize an image of yourself standing in front of a mirror.
This reflection represents your deepest and most compassionate self.
See yourself surrounded by love and understanding.
Allow this image to radiate compassion towards you,
Accepting you with all your strengths and your weaknesses.
Take a few moments to let the warmth and comfort of self-compassion permeate your entire being.
Embrace any emotions that arise without judgment,
Knowing that it's okay to feel vulnerable and to be kind to yourself in these moments.
Show yourself the same grace you would show a dear friend.
As we come to the end of this practice,
Gently bring your awareness back to your breath.
Feel the sensation of your breath moving in and out of your body,
Grounding you in the present moment.
I invite you to share in a gesture of gratitude that works for you.
This may be hands to your heart,
Hands together in prayer,
Or touching the earth on which you practice.
Go ahead and wiggle your fingers and your toes and reorient yourself to the room that you are in.
I thank you for taking this time for yourself today and for practicing with me.
Namaste.
