This is a guided meditation designed for Blue Monday but of course you can listen to it any time that perhaps you're feeling a little bit low and you need a little bit of self-care.
Now traditionally Blue Monday is the third Monday in January because it's that time between after Christmas and New Year and between the next pay day because most people are paid early,
Spent a lot of money over Christmas.
In the Northern Hemisphere it's the middle of winter and it's cold,
The days are short and generally it's a time when people feel low.
I don't know whether there's any science behind that but I know from my own experience that this time of year can be quite difficult.
Now of course if you're seriously depressed then it's important to go and see a professional but this meditation is something that you can come back to,
To resource yourself,
To give yourself some love and care.
So get yourself into a comfortable position,
Take a few great deep grounding breaths and feel the support of the earth beneath you and if you find it helpful you can just look around the space that you're in to remind yourself and to remind your nervous system that right now you're safe and if you find it helpful you can close your eyes.
And just notice how you're feeling right now with no judgment because we can create more suffering by wishing things were different to the way they are.
So if you're feeling sad,
If you're feeling a bit low,
Acknowledge that because when we allow ourselves to feel then we can release it.
So as you tune into your emotions,
Where do you feel them in the body?
Feel them as energy and if you don't feel anything in your body acknowledge that too.
We're not looking for anything that isn't there.
Notice any thoughts that are coming up and as each thought arises,
Especially if it's a difficult thought,
Ask yourself is it really true?
Because the mind is very good at tricking us and you don't have to believe your thoughts because you are not your thoughts.
So you can choose not to believe them and as you feel the breath going in and out of the body,
Appreciate yourself.
Some days are difficult and that's okay.
You're okay.
It's okay to take a pause.
It's okay to have a rest and feel all the love that's in your heart.
And if you find it helpful,
You can imagine breathing in and out through your heart and as you breathe in,
Your body is filling up with love and as you breathe out,
Letting go of any negative emotions that are getting in the way,
Keeping you stuck.
And just allowing them all to flow through your experience.
Head arises and then it goes just like the breath and allow a sense of calm to settle over your body.
Gently,
Softly,
Gently,
Just like snow falling.
Feel the body relax as you breathe away any tension.
And if any thoughts or feelings keep coming up,
Let them.
Don't push them away.
Don't try and suppress them.
Let them flow through.
Just noticing where you feel it.
And maybe,
Eventually,
It will start to feel a little bit better,
But there's no expectations either way.
Just feeling whatever you feel.
And meeting it with love and compassion for yourself.
And perhaps there's some kind of expectations going on.
Expectations you have of yourself.
Expectations that others have of you.
So just let go of anything.
Any pressure that you're putting on yourself to be perfect,
To perform.
Whatever it is,
You can let it go now.
It's safe.
And just allowing the breath to soothe and calm your mind and body.
And if you wish,
You can sit on for longer.
Just sitting with the breath.
Feeling into the body.
Letting go of all those expectations.
And now,
I invite you to just place your hands on your heart.
And feeling love and appreciation for yourself.
For taking this time today for some self-care and self-love.
For allowing your body and mind to reset before you go about the rest of your day.
Wishing you love.
Sending you my appreciation.
And I will see you again very soon.
Until the next time,
Take care,
Go well,
And lots of love.
