Creating Space To Relax Into A Deep Sleep

Okay,

So let's begin by becoming more present by getting in touch with the body,

Being aware of the body,

Gaining all the points of contact with the body.

I like this idea that by simply being aware of the body and anything that's in contact with the body,

I'm literally connecting to and touching the present moment in a very tangible way through the body.

I'm getting a real sense of grounding and rooting myself in the present moment.

The body is always here and now,

It can't be anywhere else,

So just by connecting to the body that guarantees me a feeling of being present and connected.

So I'm just going to spend a few moments really settling into that experience of being present with the body and that feeling of being grounded and connected.

And as the body settles down and as I allow myself to be more present,

I automatically become aware of the breath.

Let's spend a few moments really feeling the breath in the body,

Allowing the breath into the body with each in breath and letting go of the breath each time we breathe out.

And as the breath arrives into the body,

Having that feeling that I too am arriving in the body,

My awareness filling the body just as the breath feels the body.

So with patience and without expectation,

Allowing myself to gently settle into the present,

Not something that you can rush.

Sometimes it may take longer than others.

Just accepting where you are at this moment,

Just using this awareness of the body in the breath,

Just to gently pull you into the present moment.

So let's begin to see if we can become more aware of the physical space that's around us right now.

So mindfulness is about being aware of things that are already there in the present moment.

Usually we focus on things or actions,

Body or the breath or thoughts or sounds.

There's no reason why we can't become more mindful and more aware of the space that's around us.

Getting a sense of the space just around your body right now,

In front of you,

Behind you and to either side.

Holding that sense of space within your awareness.

Maybe connecting that sense of space with the body in the breath by just noticing that as we breathe in,

We're drawing in air from that space around us.

And each time we breathe out,

The breath leaves the body and returns to the space around the body.

And allowing the body in the breath to relax into this space.

Feeling of release and letting go.

Not just letting go of the breath,

Letting go of the body.

Allowing the body to just be as it is within this space.

So with each out-breath,

Releasing the breath,

Relaxing the body into the space around it.

And perhaps even just positioning your awareness,

Not inside the body,

But just outside the body,

Just behind the body.

As close as you can be.

The body's right in front of you.

So you feel the presence of the whole body from that position of being just in that space,

Just around the body.

So your awareness is the space and your body is inside your awareness,

Inside that space.

And just imagine how completely the body can relax as you let it go into this space.

Almost as if it's floating free in this open space of your awareness.

As we allow the body to slowly and gradually relax deeper and deeper into the present moment and into the space of our awareness,

Releasing the breath,

Releasing the body.

Let's see if we can take a similar approach to the mind and our thoughts.

And through an experience of mental space,

See if we can also release our thoughts and relax our minds.

Allow your awareness to become broader,

Wider,

More open.

Notice how easy it is to simply become aware of the much wider space around us.

Again we're just simply noticing something that's already there and always there in the present moment.

A wide open space all around us,

Stretching out to the horizon and beyond in all directions,

Stretching up into the sky and beyond.

It just takes a thought and intention to be aware that that space exists right now and to allow it to be within our awareness.

And so now any movement of the mind,

Thoughts,

Feelings,

Emotions,

However you're feeling internally,

Let's not think a bit of as internally anymore.

Your thoughts and emotions and feelings aren't inside anything.

They're not inside anything other than they're part of your experience taking place within your awareness.

And your awareness is now vast and open and wide,

Beyond the horizon,

Beyond the stars.

There are no boundaries,

No limits to your awareness.

So now allowing all your activity of the mind,

All your experiences of the mind,

Thoughts,

Feelings and emotions,

To just continue exactly as they are.

Just become aware of them just as you find them.

I'm not making any effort to change any of them in any way.

Just simply experiencing them in this wider context,

Allowing them to be within this vast open space that is also very real and very present.

So let's spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Noticing how we're feeling,

Noticing the thoughts as when they come and allowing them just to drift freely in the vast open space of your awareness.

And any tension,

Stress or anxiety naturally begins to unravel and dissolve just by being in this open space of your awareness without needing to make any effort.

Just relaxing into the present moment,

Allowing the body and the breath to be released and relaxed in the space around you.

Allow your thoughts and feelings to flow freely in that wider open space of your awareness.

Really letting go,

That sense of falling into the present moment,

Falling into this open space.

Mind and body together just as they are floating free in the open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Noticing how we're feeling,

Noticing the thoughts as when they come and allowing them just to drift freely in the vast open space of your awareness.

And any tension,

Stress or anxiety naturally begins to unravel and dissolve just by being in this open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,

Just as they are floating free in the vast open space of your awareness.

So let's just spend a few moments noticing any and all activity of the mind,