We're going to start our time with some nice deep breathing,
Really waking up different facets of our brain,
Our body,
Waking ourselves up to this present moment,
Wherever we are in our day,
Whatever our week has been like,
Letting that context step aside or wash away a bit as we anchor into this moment.
We'll be here for just a few minutes together,
Knowing that any tasks you need to tend to will still be there when we're done.
Letting yourself deepen your inhales and your exhales,
Finding a spaciousness in the present moment,
Letting things that might be worrying you in the future,
The things that are weighing you down in the past,
Be just a little bit further from you with each exhale,
Being right where you are right in this moment.
If you haven't already,
I invite you to let out a really audible sigh as you exhale and continue these nice deep breaths.
We're going to focus on the ways that we might be feeling anxiety internally.
You can even notice,
Just hearing me say the word anxiety,
What pops up inside.
Is there a certain thought,
Memory,
Body sensation,
Or emotion,
Some sort of internal cue that something's happening or responding inside?
Continuing those nice deep breaths,
There's no right or wrong answer here.
We're just noticing with curiosity and without judgment,
What's that internal association with anxiety right now?
What is the state of things inside right now as it relates to anxiety?
Seeing if you can lengthen your inhales and exhales even a little bit more,
Gently notice specifically where in your body do you feel any sensation that seems to be related to anxiety?
Even if you can't quite make sense of it right now,
Just being curious if there's anything you're noticing that maybe your body is trying to tell you is connected to anxiety,
Even if your head hasn't made that connection yet.
Continuing your deep breaths,
Notice any reactions that happened inside as you are noticing what your body might be telling you.
There's no judgment,
So it's completely okay if you have a part of you or a perspective internally that thinks this is really silly or even thinks this is ridiculous.
That's okay.
Simply notice that.
Be curious about it.
If you have a part of you or a perspective inside that is really resistant to the idea that your body might be feeling anxiety or that your body might be trying to communicate something to you,
That's okay.
Notice that.
Be curious about them.
And next,
I invite you to take a hand,
Placing it on your chest.
You might have your thumb and your middle or index finger on either side of the base of your neck,
Really having this moment of present connection with your body,
With what's happening inside,
Letting yourself know that you are listening.
You are present.
You're paying attention.
And even if it doesn't feel like it comes naturally,
Even if you feel like you don't quite know what you're doing yet and trying to connect internally,
Or even if you have parts of you that think this is silly or don't want to be doing this,
That's okay.
If there is any facet of you,
Any part of you that wants to be offering that connection and that presence,
I invite you to acknowledge that and honor that.
And with a nice deep breath,
Be curious to see what it would be like to consider God's presence with you as well.
Just noticing,
Does it feel natural to imagine that he is patiently present with you?
Does it feel natural to imagine that he is tending to your current state,
Tending to anxiety?
Or does that feel foreign?
Does that feel different from how God has been described to you?
Or maybe does that feel different from the way any parts of you perceive God?
If you'd like to spend any more time being curious with this before we close with a prayer,
You can pause the audio.
Otherwise,
I invite you to take a few more of those nice deep breaths with an audible exhale and sigh,
Really filling your entire abdomen.
And to close,
I'll pray.
Lord God,
We thank you that what we experience,
Whether it's internally or externally,
Is not a mystery to you,
Even though so many things are mysterious to us.
In a world that likes to have things figured out,
I pray that in your grace and your mercy,
You would help us to find comfort in the spaces where we don't quite know how to make sense of things,
But we can trust that it does make sense to you,
Not just even when,
But especially when it doesn't feel like that's possible.
I pray that you would help us to embody your tender and patient compassion and mercy as we slow down in our present with our own selves,
And that this would ultimately point us to you and you being present with us in each day,
In each circumstance,
Not pushing us to feel differently,
But being with us exactly where we are,
Entering into our pain,
Entering into our heartache,
Entering into our joy.
Would you give us times today to see you with us,
And with each breath,
Help us find comfort in knowing that you are our life source,
And that we do not have to be our own life source.
