Shared Story Series: Uncertainty

The Shared Story Series is a collection of meditations designed to honor that all emotions are part of our shared human experience and it is okay to feel these emotions, even welcome them, and learn from them - together. This is The Shared Story of Uncertainty.

Transcript

Welcome to the Shared Story series.

The goal of this particular series is to remind us that meditation is not about denying or eliminating our feelings.

Every emotion is a part of the human experience.

No person,

No life,

No matter how zen or wonderful,

Is immune to the experience of feeling.

And so meditation is really about acknowledging and honoring emotions in order to create space to observe them from a place of acceptance and peace.

And so this recording is the shared story of uncertainty.

And allow yourself to settle as we share this space and this story together of uncertainty.

Breathing nice and easy.

Allowing your body to relax.

Relaxing your eyes and coming fully present into this moment.

Into your body.

Nice,

Easy breaths.

I am here with you relaxing into this moment.

Also fully present.

And just for this moment,

Can you allow for the possibility that uncertainty,

This unknown,

Is actually a realm of possibility and it is not outside of you.

It is not outside of us.

It is within us.

And it is a place of power and magic.

This unknown,

This uncertainty,

Is a realm of possibility and it is quiet and sweet.

And it has a weight and energy that tells us that life is happening.

That energy is moving and shifting and creating on our behalf.

And what if our souls know this place?

This quiet,

Dark place of the unknown.

And so lets you and I welcome this dark unknown.

Here,

Now,

You and I together.

Open your heart as I open mine.

And could we even find in our hearts the ability to feel love for this unknown,

This uncertain place?

Because if we could,

That love will ground us and it will connect us and it will absolutely guide us safely into and through all this chaos and confusion.

You and me and our new friend,

The unknown,

Together.

And so here we are,

Walking in the shadow of uncertainty.

You and I.

We are walking in the dark.

We cannot see.

This is uncertainty.

This is the shadow of unknown.

And I understand that it is temporary.

Can you feel that too?

That all this uncertainty and chaos and confusion is just temporary.

And can you trust,

As I do,

That the light awaits us?

And even as I say that,

I honor that fear hovers at the edge of my senses.

I breathe in faith and exhale tension.

Faith.

Releasing tension,

First from my shoulders,

Because that is where it sits,

Coiled and thick,

Winding up the back of my neck,

Pulsing at the base of my skull.

Breathe.

Where does tension sit in your body?

Acknowledge it and exhale.

As I breathe,

I feel my shoulders relax.

I feel that tension unfurl,

Uncoil,

Unwind and slide away.

And that every breath is like soft hands gently smoothing away that pain and tension.

Being in the dark,

Here with you,

Together,

Each of us aware of the tension of uncertainty in our own unique way,

And still completely connected by this shared human experience.

And I realize in this moment it is important for me to say that I am not lost.

You are not lost.

We are here,

Together,

In the darkness of this unknown,

Yes,

But imagine that we are walking together in this darkness.

That we move slowly.

With each step our arms are outstretched to feel for any guidance.

Reaching out for something familiar by which to identify where we are or what's around us.

Each of us reaching out into the darkness to feel something so that we can know something.

And then what if,

In this uncertainty,

This chaos or darkness or limbo and confusion,

What if we can sense each other and know that we are not alone?

I am here.

You are here.

And somehow the darkness of uncertainty feels a little more familiar.

And all this unknown is a little more okay.

And now imagine that with each step it is a slow process of inching one foot forward,

Tentatively sliding toes forward,

Feeling our way along in the dark.

Searching for whatever might be in front of us to bear our weight.

Each step seeking contact with a surface that is solid and all the while we are wondering if we are stepping out into an abyss.

You and I together.

And somehow it begins to feel more like an adventure with a little less fear and confusion.

I am beginning to realize that there is a strange comfort in moving so slowly,

Easing forward with so much focus,

Fully present in this moment without distraction.

I can sense that we are moving together in the same direction and there is comfort there.

And you feel that too.

And there is even a sense of growing confidence.

I am feeling steadier and stronger in the darkness.

And gradually the darkness surrounding us begins to feel kinder,

Gentler.

Breathe.

We are safe.

We are safe.

I stop moving.

I sense you with me.

I relax my arms down to my sides,

No longer efforting or reaching or grasping in the emptiness.

Relax.

Breathe.

Hold still and listen.

Listen.

Can you hear your own breath?

Can you hear your heart beating?

Can you hear mine?

Feel your whole body let go.

We are safe.

And even though the unknown is different for us all,

We are together.

Because eventually we are all travelers in the land of uncertainty.

Eventually we all learn that everything we need to know is within us if we listen.

And as we listen,

If we pause long enough,

We realize that we are not alone and that all that is meant to be known is within us and guides us safely out of the dark and into the light.

Confident,

The uncertainty feeling familiar and more like an adventure,

We step forward.

Together.

Knowing that there is something solid and real there to bear our weight,

Support us completely and guide us,

You and I,

Into the light.

And as we listen,

We are all travelers in the land of uncertainty.

And as we listen,

We are all travelers in the land of uncertainty.

Reviews

In this moment of silence I have found peace! Thank you 🙏🏼✨🫶🏼

So soothing! This is just what I needed to surrender to the unknown this evening. Thank you so much, Bethany.

This was marvelous and so helpful for me right now. Thank you so much, Bethany. I love your meditations! 🙏🏻💚

Wow, that was spectacular. I just back from my first camping experience as an older person. I was afraid I would not be able to do it. As I walked a pitch black path to the very very far away loo I felt that same feeling you described in this meditation… the velvety blackness obscuring everything and the howling of coyotes making me fearful and vulnerable. I pushed on every step into blackness uncertain. And I came out of this experience so very strengthened and optimistic that elder life is not the end. Just a chapter with different plot twists and sub texts. But I am so much stronger than before I stretched myself with this one experience. Thank you for this timely journey into the black velvety unknown.

Excellent! 🙏🏼

For the second time this week and it was so relaxing I don’t want to get up but have to. This is the first morning story I listened I usually listen at night
If I can get going I will have I nice day. Thank you.

After losing my precious husband I have been told to remember the good times, what if I hadn’t had them? I’m told to smile, love life and to live my dreams, that he would want this. While these things might be true, they invalidate my pain and I feel so alone and honestly angry at that. Well meaning but off… so off. You have helped me more than anyone. It’s ok to feel this pain because I do! I am soothed by you with this enlightened message, as I am with all your meditations. I feel validated but more than that I feel safe and less alone.
I need to do my art. My husband wanted that for me, but finding that desire has eluded me and I feel guilty, constantly. He availed me with everything I need and yet I am stunted in pain. There is no way to feel inspired to paint or sculpt though as long as I’m required to push down my pain and scream into the night, knowing no one hears me. But you… have given me a chance to be honest and open and somehow accept today and it’s emptiness but maybe it’s potential too. Thank you.

This meditation has been helping me get through a hard time. I cannot thank you enough for these words and helping me create a space where I can come and find a pocket of peace. Namaste 🤍

This felt very connected. Your empathy was felt. Just the right meditation for me as I walk this path, into the light. Namaste, Bethany.

This meditation reminds that uncertainty is a feeling and not a fact — a choice to believe we are either on an adventure or lost and vulnerable. For me this is an exercise in becoming present to undo conditioned stories. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

All elements are present: Great voice, clear message and cool music. With a heartbeat at the background!

Just what I needed at this time and to return to as needed. Thank you 🙏🏼

I will now play this again. So comforting knowing I am sharing this with you. Thank you, Bethany.🙏✨

Oh boy, this is amazing...many days it singlehandedly helps me create a powerful shift in my outlook. Thank you

Powerful! A refreshing change in perspective on uncertainty.

So soothing and comforting and inspiring...I listened 3 times in a row this morning, and it helped me feel resilient today. I am going to listen as I fall asleep now. I love this voice so much.

Beautiful, peaceful and soothing - pleasant guiding voice.

This touched me deeply. Love it :)

Thank you for this beautiful message of comforting hope! 🙏

This is beautiful!!!