In this meditation,
We're going to spend some time finding a few moments of rest.
And we're going to just explore a little bit why rest sometimes feels uncomfortable and difficult.
So let's start by finding a comfortable position.
You can do this seated or lying down.
And if it feels good for you,
Just allow your eyes to gently close,
Or you can take a soft gaze in front of you.
Just take a few deep intentional breaths,
Breathing in through the nose and out from the mouth.
All right,
Let's do that two more times.
In through the nose,
And out from the mouth.
Well done.
One more.
In through the nose,
And out from the mouth.
And continue breathing deeply.
And the intention for this meditation today is to really take a moment to inquire and explore why slowing down or resting can sometimes feel uncomfortable or restless,
Maybe even a little unsafe.
And sometimes,
For many of us,
Especially if we are driven,
Ambitious,
High achievers,
If that sounds like you,
Sometimes rest can feel hard.
And if that's the case,
It doesn't mean that you're doing anything wrong.
It doesn't mean that you're stuck in go mode forever.
It just means that your nervous system has learned something important about staying alert or staying productive.
These habits that we tend to find ourselves in,
Or these attachments that we find ourselves in,
They come from some sort of decision or programming or idea that was impressed upon us in the early,
Early days of our human experience.
And so the invitation is to just let this space be an opportunity to observe.
We're not here to force relaxation,
But rather notice if rest feels unproductive or difficult or uncomfortable.
Just notice where that might come from,
What that feels like,
So that you can start to learn to tune in to what your body is saying.
And then you can gently redirect the attention and give your nervous system the opportunity to find calm and rest.
So let's take a moment as you're breathing to just start to turn your attention to your environment,
To what's around you.
Just notice the room that you're in.
Notice any sounds,
Any light that may be coming in through the eyelids.
Notice if your awareness is attuned to any objects nearby.
And just notice how you're in a familiar space,
A safe space,
And signal to your nervous system that you are safe where you are right now in this moment.
And for many people,
Staying busy sometimes feels safer than slowing down.
And this can look like feeling anxious when trying to rest,
Maybe having trouble sleeping or relaxing,
Feeling guilty when you're not being productive,
Or maybe feeling like something is about to go wrong when things get very quiet.
And just take a moment to notice what's present for you when you think about rest and relaxation,
When you think about slowing down and taking a break.
What comes up for you?
Do any of those experiences I named land for you?
And again,
This isn't about judging or fixing or changing.
This is just noticing.
And as you continue to breathe,
Just take a moment to tell yourself,
Rest is not a threat.
You are safe to rest.
You are safe to take a break.
You are safe to have a moment of pause.
And this isn't about becoming deeply relaxed.
We're not going to sleep right now.
We're just simply teaching the body that pause does not equal rest.
Danger.
It is not unsafe to rest.
And it does not equal a lack of productivity or a lack of forward movement.
A pause is simply a moment to recharge before you get back in the game.
So let's take one final deep breath in through the nose and out from the mouth.
And just notice in this moment,
You are safe.
And remember,
If rest ever feels uncomfortable or impossible,
Nothing is wrong with you.
Your nervous system just needs to adjust.
And safety is something that we can relearn slowly and gently.
So throughout today,
I invite you to give yourself small pauses,
Even if it's just a few seconds at a time,
30 seconds,
60 seconds.
Just pause.
Take a deep breath,
Maybe two.
And do so without judging for whatever comes up.
And if you notice that tension and you notice that instinct to suddenly get up and move around,
See if you can let yourself just for a moment,
Relax.
And from that safe space,
Then go back to tackling your tasks for the day.
Thank you for joining me in this meditation.
I am excited for you to continue finding ways to pause and rest.
Live radically.
