Welcome to this meditation,
Where we'll be exploring the idea of letting go of emotional and mental baggage.
Now I know what you might be thinking.
Baggage?
Me?
Surely not.
But let's face it,
We all have our little collection of bags we carry around.
Some are small,
Like that awkward thing you said 5 years ago and can't stop thinking about at 2am.
Others are bigger,
Maybe a past hurt,
A grudge,
Or even some long-held beliefs that no longer serve us.
But don't worry,
This meditation is a light-hearted space where you don't have to take things too seriously.
It's more like you're going to go through an emotional airport security,
Letting go of what you don't need,
One bag at a time,
And realising how much lighter you can feel.
So find a comfortable position,
Either sitting or lying down,
Somewhere you don't want to be disturbed for the next little while.
Close your eyes if that feels comfortable for you,
And let's begin our journey to becoming more aware,
More free and a little bit lighter.
First,
Let's start with a few deep breaths to settle into this moment.
Take a deep inhale in through your nose,
And as you exhale,
Let go of any tension in your body.
You don't have to do anything except be here,
Breathing.
There's no pressure to feel any particular way or achieve anything.
This is your time to just be.
Again,
Inhale deeply,
And exhale,
Feeling yourself becoming more and more relaxed with each breath.
Take a moment to feel the weight of your body against the surface you're resting on.
Let your body grow heavy and supported by the earth beneath you.
There's no need to hold yourself up,
Let the ground do that for you.
Now,
Gently bring your awareness to your body.
How does it feel?
Is there any tightness or heaviness?
Just notice without judgement.
Sometimes we carry tension physically without even realising it,
Just like how we carry our emotional baggage.
Now that you are feeling more centred,
Imagine that you are standing in a beautiful open space.
It could be a sunny meadow,
A quiet beach,
Or even a peaceful forest.
The air is fresh,
And the atmosphere around you is calm and inviting.
In front of you,
There is a path.
As you look down this path,
You notice something interesting.
Along the side of this path,
There are some bags.
Some are large,
Others are small,
And some are somewhere in between.
These bags represent the emotional and mental baggage you've been carrying.
Now,
Take a moment to imagine yourself walking closer to these bags.
They are just sitting there,
Waiting for you.
You didn't even realise they were here,
But now you can see them.
As you approach them,
Notice how many there are.
Some may look familiar,
Like bags you've been carrying around for a while.
Others might surprise you.
Maybe there's even one or two you didn't know you had.
Let yourself feel curious and light-hearted about this.
There's no rush,
No judgement,
Just a gentle awareness.
Now,
Let's pick up one of the smaller bags.
Something that feels light and manageable.
Go ahead and pick it up in your hands.
What does it look like?
What does it feel like?
Is it soft or hard?
Heavy or light?
As you hold it,
Ask yourself what this bag represents.
Perhaps it's a small worry or a past moment that you keep replaying in your mind.
It could be something minor that still somehow sticks with you.
Whatever it is,
Just allow yourself to become aware of it.
You don't have to fix it,
Just notice it.
As you continue to hold this small bag,
Feel the weight of it in your hands.
You might realise that even though it's not very big,
It has still been taking up some of your energy.
Imagine placing this bag down on the ground.
Watch it as it settles there,
No longer attached to you.
Take a deep breath in and exhale,
Feeling a little lighter.
Now,
Let's turn our attention to one of the larger bags.
This one might look a bit heavier,
Maybe a bit worn from being carried around for a long time.
Go ahead and pick it up.
As you do,
Notice the weight of it.
Feel how this one is heavier,
More substantial.
What does it feel like in your hands?
As you hold this larger bag,
Take a moment to ask yourself what this one represents.
Is it a fear you've been holding on to?
Maybe it's an old belief or a grudge that's stuck with you for a long time.
Notice the emotions that come up as you hold this bag.
You don't need to dive into them,
But just acknowledge that they're there.
Maybe this bag has served a purpose in the past.
Maybe it helped you feel safe or protected you in some way.
But now,
In this moment,
Ask yourself if you still need to carry it.
Has its time passed?
Could you let it go?
Take a deep breath in and as you exhale,
Place this bag down gently on the ground.
Watch as it rests there,
Outside of yourself.
You are no longer carrying it.
Feel the relief of setting it down and notice how your body feels without the weight of it.
Now,
Look around at the other bags that are still left.
You may see more large ones or smaller ones scattered about.
It's important to remember that you don't have to let go of everything all at once.
Just by becoming aware of what you've been carrying,
You've already begun the process of release.
Now remember,
You can return to this place anytime you want.
Each time you come back,
You might find you're ready to let go of another bag,
And that's perfectly okay.
You might want to return to this meditation in the future to help you with letting go of that baggage.
Now take a deep breath in again and exhale and feel the lightness of your body.
Notice how different it feels compared to when you started.
You might imagine yourself standing tall and free,
No longer weighed down by these bags.
Your arms are light,
Your heart is open and your mind is clear.
When you're ready,
Slowly open your eyes,
Bringing with you the sense of lightness and freedom you've cultivated during this meditation.
There is no pressure for you to let go of these bags and let go of your mind.
If you're ready to let go of these bags immediately,
This might be a process.
Remember not to take yourself so seriously,
And with light-hearted,
Loving,
Non-judgmental way of being,
You'll be able to let go of that baggage a little bit at a time.
Just be loving towards yourself and carry this feeling of lightness with you into the rest of your day.
Thank you for joining this meditation,
And may you continue to feel lighter with every step you take.
