Find your comfortable seat for the return to sender practice.
Welcome to this meditation of returning messages that aren't yours.
We hear a lot of different things in our life,
And we take them into our body.
We receive signals and messages from other people,
And we internalize them.
And they become a part of our emotional life.
And all emotional messages are stored physically in our body.
And yet we have the autonomy to take messages that aren't ours that aren't authentic to us.
We can take them off like you take off clothes.
You could never take off your authentic self.
But you can easily take off anything that is not authentic to you.
Clothes you don't like,
Clothes that doesn't fit.
Return the message to the person who gave it to you.
If someone blames you,
That's their self blame that they're sharing with you.
You don't need to accept that self blame.
You don't need first helpings,
You don't need second helpings.
You don't need to accept the blame,
But you can still have compassion to the person,
Even more so,
Because that person's emotional experience is one of blame.
If someone is angry at you,
That is their inner experience of anger that's already there.
They're sharing it with you.
It was there long ago.
But you don't need to accept that anger.
You can have compassion for the person without accepting that anger.
And when we return a message that wasn't ours in the first place,
We feel something release inside.
Our body feels lighter.
We feel more free.
So,
Beginning this practice by setting the intention,
I only accept words of respect.
I only accept words of love.
And if someone sends you a message that is outside that,
You can say,
You're sending me a message.
It reflects your inner state,
Not my inner state.
I am cultivating an inner state of compassion.
Unconditional forgiveness.
Lightness.
I am cultivating an inner world of warmth.
Care for myself and others.
What you're sending doesn't resonate.
I return the message to you with compassion.
So,
Let's do this for a specific instance.
Choose a moment when someone sent you a message.
It could have been a message of blame or anger or make you feel less than.
Any message that does not feel right,
Does not feel authentic to you,
Get back to that moment.
Feel it in your body.
Feel where it is in your body.
Notice the message behind the moment.
What was that message that was sent,
That's stored in your body now as pain or stress or discomfort?
How was it communicated?
What was the implication behind it?
Often messages are sent like,
You're at fault.
You can't do this.
You're not good enough.
Whatever that message is,
Think about the person who sent it to you.
And say to this person,
You sent me this message.
It is yours.
This package is yours.
I do not agree.
This package is yours.
It is not mine.
I return it to you.
I have no need for it.
It does not resonate.
It reflects your inner state.
I don't need to carry it inside.
I return it to you.
And imagining this person,
Saying for this person,
I forgive you.
I forgive you for sending this message.
It reflects your worldview,
Your way of being in the world.
I accept that whatever you send to me is part of you.
But I return it to you.
We are different people.
We are different people living different lives.
We have different authentic selves.
I return to you that message.
And yet,
I accept you just as you are.
I see you as valuable just as you are.
But inside,
I only want to carry lightness,
Compassion,
Courage,
Energy,
Love,
Forgiveness.
Put a hand on your heart and say,
I take full responsibility for what lives inside me.
I take full responsibility for what is in my heart,
In my body,
For what is in my life.
And if it is not mine,
I return it.
I return it like a package that was sent to the wrong address.
And now put your hand on your body to this place that is holding the blame or the anger or whatever it may be.
It might be the chest or the stomach or the throat,
The neck.
Place your hand or just place your awareness on that spot on your body where you have the tension,
The heaviness from this message.
Feel it there.
Nurture it there.
Let the warmth of your hand say,
I am so sorry you had to carry that for such a long time.
I am here to offer you relief.
You no longer need to hold this message.
This message does not resonate with my core.
You can let go.
And now you can keep your hand there or you can release the hand back down.
But breathing in light,
Breathing in warmth into this area.
Start to breathe energy and warmth and light into this area in your body.
Clearing it out.
We will do this for about 30 seconds.
With your compassion,
With your self-compassion,
Revitalizing this part of the body,
This area,
With your own energy,
Your own intention,
Your own breath that is so authentic to you.
Breathing in,
Breathing out,
Nurturing it with your awareness,
With your breath,
With your practice.
So that all that is within you is authentic to you.
Your breath is always healing to you.
Your awareness is always healing to you.
Your compassion towards yourself is always healing to you.
And you have this enormous power.
Ending with the words.
I receive only words of love.
I hear only words of love.
I send only words of love.
What is yours is yours.
What is mine is mine.
And I go through life authentically.
As I wish you happiness.
And I wish happiness for all beings.
Ending with the wish,
May I be happy.
May I always be my authentic self in the world.
May I only carry what I choose to carry inside.
And may I create an environment of love around me and in me.
May I create joy and lightness around me and in me.
And everything else I let go of.
And now taking a deep breath in.
Taking a deep breath out through the mouth.
And thank yourself for having done this deep releasing meditation practice.
As you feel ready,
Opening your eyes softly.
Moving into a reality where you don't have to keep this view,
This message any longer.
