Today,
I want to talk about something that isn't always easy to talk about.
Letting go.
Have you ever heard the saying,
The body keeps the score?
Your body can hold on to things you think you've forgotten about.
Things you never said out loud.
Things you never quite forgave.
Maybe because you weren't ready.
Or maybe because no one ever gave you the closure you needed.
And it shows up.
A headache that comes back again and again.
A tightness in your back.
That no amount of stretching seems to release.
A jaw that stays clenched.
Even when nothing is wrong at the moment.
I understand this one personally.
I held on to things for far too long.
And for me.
It showed up as insomnia.
And how I function in anxiety.
Looking fine on the outside.
While something underneath stayed unsettled.
So if that sounds familiar.
.
.
I want you to know.
You're not alone in this.
And you're in the right place.
Make yourself comfortable now.
Seated or lying down is fine.
Close your eyes if that feels right for you.
Or simply let your gaze soften down towards the floor.
We're going to use the breath throughout this practice.
Not to force anything.
But to gently soften what's ready to soften.
Take a slow breath in through your nose.
For a count of four.
And out through your mouth.
Slow.
And long.
For a count of six.
Again,
Breathe in.
And slowly release.
A six.
Let your breath settle into its own rhythm now.
We'll return to this pattern throughout.
I want to invite you gently to bring to mind something you've been carrying.
Maybe it's a disappointment.
Maybe it's betrayal.
Maybe it's grief.
Or anger.
Or the particular pain of not receiving closure.
Maybe you never got that apology.
Maybe you never got the explanation.
Maybe you are still trying to understand.
How someone could hurt you.
And simply continue on with their life.
Seemingly unaffected.
You don't have to relive the details.
Just let the feeling be present.
However it shows up.
Now gently notice where this lives in your body.
It might be in your chest.
By heaven is?
Or tightness.
It might be in your throat.
A holding back of words never said.
Your stomach.
Your shoulders.
Your jaw.
Just notice.
Just acknowledge that your body has been carrying this faithfully.
Maybe for longer than you realize.
I want to say something clearly.
Because I think it needs to be said.
Letting go does not mean it didn't matter.
It does not mean what happened was okay.
Or fear.
Are acceptable.
Letting go means you are no longer willing to let this pain take something new from you every single day.
You can honor what happened.
You can honor how much it hurt.
And you can still choose in this moment.
To stop paying for it over and over again.
Let's use the breath now to begin softening what you've been holding.
This isn't forceful.
It's gradual.
Like a hand slowly opening.
Breathe in for four counts.
And as you breathe out for six.
Let whatever you notice in your body soften just a fraction.
Breathe in again.
And as you breathe out.
Call your attention back from the conversations you keep replaying in your head.
Breathe in for four.
And breathe out calling your energy back from the questions that may never be answered.
Breathe in and breathe out.
Call yourself back to this moment.
This breath.
This body.
Right here.
One more time,
Breathe in fully.
And release completely.
Letting your body soften wherever it's ready to.
Let your breath return to its natural rhythm now.
Notice how your body feels compared to when we began.
You may not feel completely different,
And that's okay.
Letting go isn't usually one moment.
It's often many small moments,
Breath by breath,
Day by day.
Whatever you're feeling right now,
Even if it's still heavy.
Even if tears came.
Even if nothing seemed to shift at all.
That's okay.
It takes time to release and let go.
And there's no timeline you're supposed to be following.
The guided portion of today's practice is complete.
Take care of yourself today.
And come back here as often as you need.
This is a practice.
Take care.
