10:08

For Difficult Times: A Meditation

by Itzel Hayward

Rated
4.8
Type
guided
Activity
Meditation
Suitable for
Everyone
Plays
76

This meditation offers support during challenging times. Through gentle attention to the breath and body, you’re invited to rest in awareness without trying to fix or change anything. Each breath becomes an anchor to the present moment, reminding you of the steadiness that’s already here. You can return to this practice whenever things feel difficult, as a way to meet yourself with presence and care.

MeditationBreath AwarenessPresent MomentEmotional SupportBody AwarenessPeaceHeart SteadinessEmotional AcknowledgmentPresent Moment AnchoringBody Contact AwarenessSilent Wish For Peace

Transcript

Today's meditation is an invitation to steady the heart in difficult times,

To rest with the breath and find ground in awareness.

Let's begin.

Find a comfortable position,

Sitting,

Standing,

Lying down.

Let the body be supported in a way that feels natural.

Allow the eyes to lower and the gaze to soften,

Or if it's comfortable,

Allow the eyes to gently close.

Feel the weight of the body in contact with the surface beneath it,

And now bring your awareness to the breath.

Without changing anything,

Allow the breath to come and go.

Simply notice breathing in,

Breathing out,

And allow the breath to find its own rhythm,

Its own pace.

In times of challenge and difficult times,

The mind can move quickly.

Many emotions can arise one after another,

Or maybe even at once.

Thoughts trying to make sense of what's happening,

To explain,

To fix.

For now,

You don't have to solve anything.

Just come back to the breath.

Feel this breath,

And this one.

Each breath an anchor to the present moment.

Even when things feel uncertain,

We can always come back to the breath.

If you notice a feeling or a thought arise,

Acknowledge it quietly.

You don't need to push it away or make it smaller.

Simply acknowledge it and come back to the breath.

Each time you notice the mind has wandered,

Each time you notice an emotion or a thought,

Gently come back to the breath,

The simple rhythm of being alive.

If you notice the attention has wandered again,

Return to the breath,

Feeling the body breathing,

Present.

And when you're ready,

Feel again those parts of the body in contact with the support beneath you,

And notice the body breathing,

And knowing you can always come back to the breath at any moment,

A place of refuge,

Of resource,

Of presence.

Even now,

You can come back to the breath.

And let's close this practice today with a silent wish that the entire universe and all beings everywhere know peace,

Peace,

And only peace.

Meet your Teacher

Itzel HaywardOakland, CA, USA

4.8 (19)

Recent Reviews

Ursula

December 18, 2025

Nice and calming. Nice soothing voice and so was tje music. I enjoyed this very much, thank you 💜💜💜

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© 2026 Itzel Hayward. All rights reserved. All copyright in this work remains with the original creator. No part of this material may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

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