Welcome.
This meditation is an opportunity to learn and grow in a fun new way.
Have you ever played a game on a computer,
A console,
A tablet or phone?
Today we're going to go on a magical adventure with all our senses and explore what it would be like to be inside a magical game that you have designed with all your favourite elements,
Where you get to discover more about yourself and allow your creative mind to have a new adventure.
So I wonder if you can take a moment to wriggle and stretch out any tension and trust that your body in the next few breaths can find a comfortable position to sit in.
And we'll begin by paying attention now to the position of your feet,
Noticing how they feel.
Perhaps you can notice what you're wearing on your feet.
We often pay no attention to what we're sensing around us.
We have an incredible ability to notice what we think is important in any moment and not notice many other things that are happening inside us and around us.
It's a bit like pointing a camera and taking a photo.
We only notice what we're focused on in that moment.
So as you notice the feeling in your feet now,
I want to invite you to close your eyes and imagine or just pretend that you're now standing in a very beautiful place.
It's the first scene of your own inner game and you can imagine in that scene whatever feels fun or calming or beautiful to you.
This is your very own adventure game where you can journey to new places,
Sometimes alone,
Sometimes with friends,
And I can help you to find clues,
To solve puzzles and overcome any challenges that you might encounter.
So begin by noticing where you are in the game.
Are you inside or outside?
What do you notice around you?
Are you alone or are there others in the game with you?
Are you competing against others?
You might notice there are some who are ready to help you.
And notice what you look like.
You're at the beginning of your own inner game and to get yourself ready,
First you need to check into your health.
So begin by scanning your body,
Noticing how it feels.
Is it feeling energized or sleepy?
Does it feel calm or anxious?
In your hands you hold a control pad with knobs and dials on it.
There's a yellow dial labeled energy and you can turn that to a level that feels perfect for you.
You might also notice an orange dial that says curiosity.
You can turn that dial all the way to maximum.
You will need your sense of curiosity to find clues,
Think clearly and try new strategies.
When we stay in a state of curiosity,
We notice problems and look for solutions instead of becoming worried,
Scared or feeling stuck.
On your control panel there's also a green dial,
It says listening.
So take a moment to notice what you can hear around you now.
If it's helping you to feel focused and calm,
You don't need to change the levels.
Otherwise,
Turn the dial to the perfect level for you so that you can focus.
There's a dial for paying attention.
You can turn that up to a feeling of being ready to focus in a relaxed way.
Like when you're on an easter egg hunt or scavenger hunt.
Able to notice all the colors,
All the things around you.
Noticing what is important and what isn't as you search for clues.
Also on your gamepad is another dial that says persistence.
This is the ability to keep going,
Even though there may be struggles and setbacks along the way.
You can turn that dial almost all the way up.
Because even when we were very little we had to persist to get better at learning things.
Like riding a bike and going through that wobbling stage.
Like learning to read and write when we wobble and stumble through letters and words until bit by bit it gets easier to read our own name and know that we're exactly where we're supposed to be.
And even when we first learn to count sometimes the numbers seem confusing.
But just like words,
Numbers and maths are a language.
It helps to describe all the elements in your game and the world we live in.
The number of health points we've gained.
The time it will take to complete the first level of the game.
The numbers of tools we have in our inventory.
And what we can trade with other players can all be described by numbers and words written on paper,
On a screen or drawn into the ground with a stick.
And it's now time to focus on your well-being.
Do you need food or something to drink?
You might notice a level on your gamepad that shows how happy and content your body feels right now.
And when it drops down it's time to eat or drink to boost your fuel levels.
And when you play your own inner game it's important to keep checking in.
Noticing what you need to feel safe and comfortable in your body.
And as you begin to wander around your game you will notice there are many challenges and lessons to learn.
Sometimes you might find people coming to ask you for help.
You can choose to help them if your body has enough fuel.
And you'll receive extra points that you can spend in any way you want.
It could be trading a skill.
Or even jumping ahead to the next level.
And I wonder what skills you would like to have in your game.
Do you need special powers?
You might even earn special powers by completing harder challenges.
And noticing how the harder the challenge the more your special powers grow.
Some challenges you won't be able to complete the first time.
You may even find yourself going backwards or getting stuck.
So in those moments turn up the dials of perseverance and curiosity.
Take a moment to look around you.
Is there someone you can work with?
Is there something you didn't notice the first time?
Or is there another way of solving the challenge?
Your senses are also superpowers.
Maybe you can see into the future.
Maybe you can sense which is the right path to go down.
Just by tuning into your inner voice that loves to guide you.
Practice those superpowers now for a moment.
Noticing what it feels like.
This is your special game.
Only you know how to play it.
And you've designed it to be challenging and fun.
Notice how you move through the game and what that feels like in your body.
I'm going to be quiet for a moment as you begin to play.
And when you hear my voice again we're going to try an experiment.
So go ahead.
Press start.
Get set and go.
Now it's time to press pause.
And when you do,
Something wonderful happens.
You step out of your game.
Remembering that you're still sitting in your seat.
With your eyes closed,
Feeling comfortable.
And as you tune into the feeling of having your feet on the ground,
You might even feel like you still have your hands on the control pad.
You may even notice there's a button that you didn't see before that says relaxed focus.
And as you push that button,
I wonder if you can imagine floating high above your chair now,
Up into a beautiful blue sky.
With each slow breath,
Drifting higher and higher,
Up into the clouds.
Feeling the sun on your face.
Looking out over a big,
Wonderful world below.
You might see cities,
Rivers,
Oceans,
Forests,
Deserts.
Just like you would see from the windows of a plane.
And what do you see as you float higher and higher?
And with each slow breath,
Noticing how calm it feels as you notice all the wonderful things below you.
You might even notice what it feels like when you imagine visiting those places and all the things you could do.
Perhaps riding camels near the pyramids.
Sailing across the oceans.
Climbing the world's tallest mountains.
Singing and dancing on stage.
Maybe designing a rocket ship.
There are so many wonderful things you could do.
And as you float,
You're aware that you can still change all the settings on your inner control panel.
And there's one that you haven't noticed that says relaxed focus.
And when you press it,
Notice how you gently float back down,
Back into the chair,
Paying attention to all you can hear and all you can feel.
And knowing that you can adjust all the dials and knobs whenever you need to,
To feel energized,
Focused and alert.
And when you're ready to bring that feeling of calm focus and all your superpowers back into the world,
Taking a nice deep breath and opening your eyes.
