Sometimes,
We feel ourselves overwhelmed by the world and need to have a safe place to go to in our minds,
Sort of like an inner retreat center.
Let's visit your safe place now.
Find a comfortable seated or lying down position and close your eyes.
Take some deep breaths and allow your body to relax and release tension,
Allowing your body to become limp and loose,
Each breath becoming deeper and longer than the one before it.
And now imagining yourself at the top of some stairs.
Even if you cannot stand in real life,
In your imagination,
Anything is possible and you can have full use of your legs in your mind's eye.
So you slowly begin to descend deeper and deeper,
Deeper and deeper into yourself.
Fearing the bottom now and arriving at the bottom floor in seven,
Six,
Five,
Four,
Three,
Two,
And one.
You are on the bottom floor now and in front of you,
There is an ornate door that looks familiar.
It is the door to your safe place.
You walk up to it and notice that it has a very sophisticated security system that requires the scan of your eyes,
Your fingerprints,
And a special shaped key.
You look down and realize that you have that key in your pocket and begin the process of unlocking the door.
The door slowly opens for you and you step inside,
Closing and locking the door behind you.
Your eyes adjust to the lighting inside and you begin to take in your inner safe place.
Looking at the walls,
What is the texture?
Is it wood,
Concrete,
Metal,
Stone,
Or wallpaper?
What decorations have you placed on the walls for your enjoyment?
Are there any windows in your safe place?
What tranquil setting do you see outside of your window?
Notice the furniture,
If any,
In your safe place.
What have you placed there for your comfort?
Take a moment and sit down to relax in one of your cozy chairs.
Looking around your safe place,
What else do you see?
Are there any favorite people or pets,
Living or deceased,
That you brought in to comfort and soothe you?
What sounds do you hear?
Perhaps your favorite music,
Gentle water fountains,
Or laughter?
What does it smell like in your safe place?
Is your favorite food cooking?
Make sure you taste some of this special food while you're there.
Or perhaps your favorite incense or aromatherapy scent is burning.
Or perhaps there's fresh cut flowers on the tables.
Breathing it all in and feeling yourself relax even deeper as you sense peacefulness in this safe place.
Now picking up the journal you left for yourself on the table and begin writing yourself a comforting note that you can read back to yourself the next time you visit.
It can be anything you want that would make you feel peaceful,
Comforted,
And loved when needed.
And if no message comes to mind,
Draw yourself a picture that would lift your spirits or make you laugh.
Taking a moment to relish in this safe place a bit longer and notice the warm,
Happy glow you feel within yourself simply by being there.
And doing whatever you need to prepare to leave your safe place now.
Taking a deep breath in and saying goodbye for now.
Knowing that you have the only key to this safe place and you can return to it at any time you wish and as often as you wish.
Moving through the door and locking up,
Turning around and stepping onto the first step of the stairs and slowly beginning your ascent.
Continuing higher and higher,
Passing the halfway point,
Almost to the top and emerging at the top of the stairs in seven,
Six,
Five,
Four,
Three,
Two,
And one.
Feeling yourself coming back into your body now,
Back into this room.
Wiggling your fingers and your toes.
Taking a deep breath in and gradually opening your eyes.
You now have a safe place to visit whenever you need.
