Protecting yourself during exhaustion.
We won't be journaling in this JoyWork lesson.
This may be something that you want to save for when you are super super tired.
You can download it and return to it as often as you need.
There is a reason that schools schedule a spring break,
But it doesn't have to do with the beach.
It's because it's normal to feel exhausted.
Not just tired.
Not just drained.
A bone deep weariness.
The word exhaustion comes from the Latin verb exarere,
Which means to drain out.
As a creative person,
That's what you do.
Drain yourself out in your work.
Here is my gift to you.
A letter to yourself.
Let yourself hear yourself in it.
Let yourself move into a cocoon of rest and stillness and protection.
Dear me,
I know you feel exhausted right now.
I want you to remember all you've done,
All the studying,
All the creating,
All the writing,
All the growing,
All the being courageous with your life.
These are things to be proud of.
Sometimes you feel this pride,
But recently you've led the doubts and worries about yourself and your future overwhelm you.
When you first started on this path,
You were focused on the present.
What was right in front of you that you had to do?
You felt grateful simply for being able to create and think about your work.
I want you to return to that feeling now,
Realizing all you have.
Look around you at your life and find three things you can see that bring you joy.
They can be simple things.
Your coffee mug,
A window near your desk,
A nice pen.
Now think of three things in your mind that bring you joy.
Your child,
Your partner,
A book you just read,
Ideas for writing.
Let joy fill up your life and mind so there is no room for worry.
Do not live in the uncertainties of the future,
But in the plenitude and comfort of all that you have in front of you right now.
Let the joy of this bubble up.
Your life is meant to be lived as a celebration of all that is.
Love me.
Now we will practice the loving kindness guided meditation.
You can allow yourself to sit in a comfortable way or if you like simply lie down.
Wherever you are,
Breathe naturally.
Watching your breath going in and your breath going out.
And then place your attention on the area around your heart.
Repeating to yourself gently and softly,
Feeling the resonance of the words.
Love,
Love,
Love.
May my heart be filled with love.
Like an orchestra warming up,
Begin to hear the music of love within you.
Now begin to experience this feeling of warmth and love through your whole body.
Like an orchestra beginning to play the soft notes together.
Feel the music of love resonating throughout your body.
Feel the sense of caring,
Healing,
Soothing.
Let it wash over you and through you while you gently repeat silently to yourself,
May I be happy.
May I be healthy.
May I be safe.
May I feel peace.
Now bring into your mind your own higher self and deep wisdom within.
The part of you that watches,
Witnesses,
And is a wise guide.
You might think of it as the orchestra's stringed instruments,
Violins,
Violas,
Cellos,
And bass.
Feel how the connection between the bow and the string is what makes these instruments sing.
Feel this connection between your own mind and your own heart.
And send your higher self and deep wisdom within,
Feelings of warmth and caring as you wish all parts of yourself well,
Repeating,
May we be happy.
May we be healthy.
May we be safe.
May we feel peace.
Bring to mind the part of you that helps you to stay calm and lighthearted.
You might think of this as the woodwinds,
Flutes,
Clarinets,
Bassoons,
Piccolos,
And oboes.
Bring their image to mind.
Feel how their sound is controlled with the breath.
Imagine this music in you now.
And send this calm and lighthearted part of yourself,
These feelings of warmth and caring as you wish yourself well,
Repeating,
May we be happy.
May we be healthy.
May we be safe.
May we feel peace.
And then bring to mind the part of you that helps you deal with conflict.
You might think of this as the brass instruments,
Trumpets,
Horns,
Trombones,
And the tuba.
Bring their sound into your consciousness.
Feel the deep power of their brassiness.
Feel this courage and strength within you now.
And send this part of yourself,
These feelings of warmth and caring as you repeat silently,
May we be happy.
May we be healthy.
May we be safe.
May we feel peace.
And then radiate the warmth and love to the parts of you that lift you up,
Even when you don't know that they are there.
Think of this as the percussion instruments,
Piano,
Drums,
Triangles,
Xylophones,
Timpani,
Cymbals,
Gongs,
And chimes,
Bring their sound to mind.
Imagine hearing them within you now.
Feel their brightness and energy and love.
Send them these feelings of warmth and caring as you wish them well,
Repeating silently,
May we be happy.
May we be healthy.
May we be safe.
May we feel peace.
And then focus once again on yourself.
So the feeling of loving kindness with the whole orchestra fills your whole being.
Breathing in peacefully,
Breathing out peacefully,
At peace with yourself and the world.
And then slowly letting the feelings of loving kindness ease and return once again to focusing just on your breathing.
Noticing your body in the present time and the present season.
And when you're ready,
Returning to everyday consciousness,
Renewed,
Refreshed,
Deeply,
Deeply loved.
