Aren't you tired?
Tired of being strong?
The strong one that over extends,
Back bends,
And pretends that everything is alright.
I'm fine.
But aren't you tired?
From overpouring and emptying your cup,
Running on the reserves of your spirit and the remnants of your energy's reservoir.
I know you must be.
Lay down your armor.
Remove the cape.
Because right now,
The only one that needs saving is you.
All of you is safe here.
You are welcome here.
You are accepted here to be saved.
You are accepted here just as you are.
So closing your eyes.
And as the eyes close,
Becoming aware of our bodies and our breath.
We have arrived.
All of you.
Your sadness,
Your joy,
Your happiness,
Your anger,
Your rage,
Your exhaustion.
All of you is present here.
Softening the eyebrows.
Unclenching the jaw.
Releasing the tension from your shoulders.
Taking a moment to check in with your body and notice how you are feeling in this moment.
And by noticing,
We are allowing whatever it is that we are feeling in this moment to be there.
What is there?
What are you holding on to?
What's holding on to you?
Noticing the breath and notice how you are breathing in this moment.
See where the breath goes and see where it doesn't.
The breath is our greatest resource.
And so with every in-breath,
We are welcoming life and stillness,
Nourishment for our minds,
Our bodies,
And our spirits.
And on the exhale,
Releasing everything and everyone and anything that no longer serves us in this present moment.
Again,
Because you are safe here.
Breathing in through the nose,
Expanding the lungs,
Filling the belly.
On the exhale,
Letting it all go.
Breathing in deeply.
Breathing out effortlessly.
Breathing in.
Breathing out.
Breathing in.
Breathing out.
I want you now to think back,
Back in time,
Or maybe it's even your present reality of when you had to be strong.
Maybe you remember the first time that you had to deny yourself feelings,
Expression,
Just to comfort others.
Shrinking yourself,
Hiding yourself.
Allowing yourself not to be seen.
Notice how this made you feel.
And how it makes you feel in the present moment.
Who told you that you had to be strong?
Or maybe there was things that you experienced where being strong was the only choice.
And that's okay.
Because in this moment,
You are safe here.
You are welcome here.
And you are accepted here just as you are.
And if the mind begins to wander,
That's okay.
Just bringing it back home to the present moment.
Now I invite you to ask yourself what it means to be strong.
Up until this moment,
What did strong look like?
Just allowing whatever arises to be there.
Having compassion for ourselves.
Showing ourselves kindness.
Where did we learn our strength from?
And as these things come up,
We can begin to think of strong in a way that supports us.
In a way that nurtures us,
Mind,
Body,
And spirit.
What else can strength look like?
Maybe it's boundaries.
Maybe it's putting ourselves first.
Maybe it's rest,
Speaking our truth,
Being honest.
What do you want strength to look like for you?
Continuing to breathe.
Continuing to reimagine strength.
Rethink what it means to be the strong one.
And together,
Taking a deep breath in through the nose.
Letting it all go through the mouth.
As this practice comes to an end,
Take your time here to come back into the present moment.
Come back to the breath.
Come back to your body.
Come back.
Inviting movement into your hands and your toes.
Whatever feels right for you.
Slowly and gently opening your eyes.
Thanking yourself for being in practice.
If you have a few moments to spare,
I invite you just to journal or write in your notes in your phone.
How you've been being strong or how you've been playing the strong one in your life.
And in the lives of others.
And see how you can begin to honor yourself by changing the way that you play strong.
What's needed.
What can you let go of?
How can you begin to soften,
But yet still stay firm in what it is that you believe in?
Until next time,
Friends.
Sending you love.
