Permission To Be: Human

In a world that constantly asks you to do more, this practice invites you to feel the allowance of just being. Through breath awareness and gentle grounding, you'll cultivate the qualities you want to nurture within yourself and explore how you want to show up for others. You'll discover that presence isn't something you have to earn; it's already here. A 5-minute invitation to honor the person you are beneath all the doing.

Transcript

Hi there!

Welcome back to Insight Timer.

I'm Stephen,

Your guide for this meditation.

There are so many signals in the world that we need to be productive,

That we need to do things.

And for the next few minutes I want this to be an invitation for you to just feel the allowance and the presence of being human.

We are indeed human beings and not human doings.

So what can support you in being?

One thing that can support you in being human is your breathing.

Take a moment without any judgment to notice how you're breathing.

Is it shallow or full?

Fast or slow?

Does it reach down into your belly?

Or does it stay up in your chest?

Don't make it wrong or right.

Just notice what's present with your breath right now.

In this moment,

Notice where your eyes go,

Where your attention goes.

Feel your body where it touches the ground or the seat beneath you.

Feel your weight settling.

Energy flows where the attention goes,

Like water finding its path.

Your presence follows where you direct it.

Take another breath.

Feel it moving through you.

Notice where you might want to direct your energy,

Your attention,

Your breath.

This practice is your space.

And this space is your practice.

Now,

In being human,

Consider what aspects of yourself do you want to be.

Do you want to cultivate,

Nourish,

And feed?

Do you want to be kind?

Do you want to be present?

Do you want to be calm?

Feel into these qualities as you breathe.

And as you move through your day,

How do you want to show up for others?

How do you want to be with the people in your life?

And what does that you feel like in your body?

As you notice how you are at this moment,

You might start to consider how you want to be as you move into your day.

What parts of your human being do you want to gift with more energy,

Attention,

Breath?

Take a moment to honor those intentions.

And as you prepare to return,

Remember you don't have to earn this presence.

You don't have to do anything more to be enough.

This allowance,

This very being,

Is already here.

It stays with you.

Carry this being into each moment.

Be.

Breathe.

When you're ready,

You're welcome to return to your space and be human.

Thanks for practicing with me.