Hello my friend,
And welcome.
Today we're going to spend a few minutes practicing somatic tracking for fatigue.
This is a gentle practice of bringing kind,
Curious attention to your experience.
Without trying to change it,
Fix it,
Or make it go away.
Living with chronic fatigue often means spending a lot of time thinking about energy levels.
Checking in,
Measuring.
Wondering how much you have in the tank today.
Trying to decide whether you can do one more thing or whether you should do less.
And those habits make perfect sense.
Your brain is just trying to help.
But for the next few minutes,
We're going to set all of that aside.
Nothing is being asked of you right now.
You don't need to plan the rest of your day.
You don't need to decide what you're capable of.
You only need to notice this moment with as much openness and curiosity as you can.
So let's begin.
Find a position that feels comfortable and supported for you.
And take a slow,
Easy breath.
Notice the support beneath you.
Maybe that's your chair,
Your bed,
The floor.
And allow yourself to settle for just a few moments.
There's nothing you need to accomplish,
Nothing you need to figure out.
Now gently allow your awareness to turn inward.
And notice what fatigue feels like in your body right now.
Perhaps you notice heaviness in your limbs.
A sense of slowing down.
Pressure behind the eyes.
A feeling of weakness or fogginess.
Or maybe it's a feeling that's difficult to put into words.
For me,
Fatigue would feel like my body was made out of lead,
And my brain was swimming in molasses.
Like I was stuck in a chronic state of slow motion.
So whatever you're experiencing right now is okay and welcome to be here.
Rather than measuring it or trying to decide what it means,
Simply observe it.
Notice where the sensation of fatigue feels most noticeable.
Notice its shape or texture.
Its weight.
Whether it feels more diffuse or concentrated.
Whether it stays steady or subtly shifts from one moment to the next.
There are no right or wrong answers here.
Just notice.
As you continue observing,
Remind yourself that this is simply your experience in this moment.
This is just your brain stuck in defense mode,
Trying to protect you.
The fatigue is actually a safe sensation.
It's just a false alarm.
You don't have to fight it.
You don't have to understand it.
You don't have to make it different.
We're just practicing becoming familiar with it.
Now gently return your attention to your breath.
To the support beneath you.
Anything that feels comforting,
Soft,
Or alive right now.
Then expand your awareness to include the fatigue once again.
Perhaps it feels exactly the same,
Or perhaps it's changed in some small way.
Whatever is happening is perfectly okay.
Remember,
Your job isn't to create change.
Your job is simply to notice.
If you notice your mind beginning to calculate,
Planning what you'll be able to do later,
Wondering what this feeling means,
Or wishing the fatigue would just leave already,
Simply notice those thoughts.
There's no need to push them away.
Then gently return to what you can directly experience right now,
The sensations that are present in this moment.
For these next few breaths.
Nothing needs to be decided.
Nothing needs to be solved.
You are simply here.
Now allow your awareness to widen.
Notice the sounds around you,
The temperature of the air.
The feeling of your clothing against your skin.
Allow the fatigue to just be one part of your experience,
Rather than the whole picture.
And with practice,
This will teach your brain that fatigue doesn't mean danger,
That the heaviness or fog can be here,
And that you are still safe and okay.
For the next few moments,
Simply rest here.
Accepting,
Allowing,
Observing.
Alright,
When you're ready,
Begin gathering your awareness back to the space around you.
Open your eyes if you had them closed.
Perhaps enjoy a stretch or yawn and take a few deeper breaths.
Thank yourself for taking these few minutes to practice with me.
Living with chronic fatigue can be incredibly challenging.
But each time you meet your experience with curiosity instead of fear or resistance.
You're helping your nervous system learn that you are safe,
Even in the presence of discomfort.
I am wishing you well,
My friend,
And I'll be here whenever you're ready to practice again.
