Overcome Burnout, Recharge Mind & Body

Thank you for taking your first step in overcoming burnout by making the decision to join us this evening. Learn to nurture your inner flame and restore well-being within your body and spirit in tonight’s guided sleep meditation.

Transcript

Are you ready to nurture your inner flame and restore well-being in body and spirit?

What if this practice could be the first step in transforming burnout into balance and renewal?

My name is Jason Stevenson,

And tonight I will lead you on a journey of restoration,

Enhancing your embodiment of inner peace,

Energy,

And well-being.

So before we begin,

Give yourself permission to rest and receive as we journey to an inner campfire,

Surrounded by the strength and support of rooted trees and ancient stars.

If there is nothing you need to bring with you,

Simply open your heart to the possibilities ahead.

So take a mindful moment now to settle in,

Invite your whole body to surrender into the surface beneath it,

And gently closing your eyes when you're ready.

As you anchor into the bed beneath you,

Taking a long,

Slow breath in,

And releasing with a deep sigh as you exhale.

And before we travel to an inner visual landscape,

Let's offer the physical body the care and relaxation that it deserves.

Begin by calling your attention to your feet,

And just holding them in a gentle awareness.

And now give your feet permission to let go.

There is nowhere they need to carry you tonight.

Welcome a long,

Slow breath into both of your feet,

And as you exhale,

Invite any tension to surrender.

As your feet relax,

Guide your attention now to your ankles,

And as was done with your feet,

Bathe your ankles in this kind,

Caring awareness.

Fill your ankles with a loving breath as you inhale,

And invite them to soften as you exhale.

We will continue to move through the body in this slow and gentle way,

And if you discover any tension or discomfort,

Just tend to it with care and patience.

And explore what can be gently softened,

And if anything feels too difficult to present with,

You can focus your awareness on a part nearby that feels grounding to you.

But now from your ankles,

Travel to your calves and your shins,

And sensing into these parts of your body with care and curiosity,

Filling them with a warm,

Restorative inhale.

And as you exhale,

Envision any tension or fatigue to melt away.

And your awareness rises into your knees now,

Blessing these parts of your body with compassionate presence,

And inviting any strain or discomfort to dissolve as you breathe out.

And now bring your focus to your upper legs,

Into the front,

Sides,

And back of your thighs,

And filling these areas with warmth and affection as you inhale,

And letting go as you exhale.

And give both of your legs full,

Unconditional permission to rest,

To be received by the bed beneath them.

And as your legs relax,

Your attention rises into your pelvic bowl,

And as you inhale,

Your attention rises into your pelvic bowl.

Bathe this area in heartfelt presence,

And on your next out-breath,

Invite any tightness or tension to slowly dissipate.

Take another slow,

Deep breath into this part of you,

And deepening the surrender as you exhale.

And from your pelvis,

Your attention fills your entire belly,

Which expands and contracts with each slow breath.

And on your next inhale,

Imagine that your belly fills with warmth and lightness.

And as you breathe out,

Allow it to soften completely,

Releasing any tension or tightness to the atmosphere around you.

And continue to breathe slowly and mindfully,

As awareness fills your heart space.

And with your next couple of breaths,

Feel your heart and chest expanding,

And see if you can envision them filling with restorative life-energy,

Guiding you to deeper layers of relaxation.

After your next breath out,

Take a moment to witness your back,

And as you inhale,

Feel your back gently expanding.

Feel tension and fatigue slowly dissolving as you exhale.

Now become aware of your shoulders,

Noticing what's present there.

Blanket your shoulders with compassionate attention.

And as you exhale,

Give your shoulders permission to surrender.

Allow them to release any weight or pressure they've been holding.

As your shoulders relax,

Allow this caring presence to slowly travel through your arms.

Sense into your upper arms first,

Filling those muscles and cells with light and love,

Softening as you breathe out.

And then offer your elbows the same caring presence,

Before traveling into your lower arms,

Into your wrists,

And into your hands.

Grant each of these areas your caring awareness,

And encourage them to gently surrender as you exhale.

Grant both of your arms full permission to rest,

To be held and supported by the bed beneath them.

And then complete this restorative journey through your body by traveling up and through your neck,

Relaxing your jaw and your cheeks,

Surrendering any tension in your face or forehead as you exhale.

And inviting your entire head to relax completely,

To surrender to the pillow beneath it.

For the next few breaths,

Envision your headspace filling with ease and lightness,

All tension dissolving into the surface below.

Infuse your whole body,

From the soles of your feet to the crown of your head,

With devoted attention now.

And as you do,

See if you might offer your body gratitude for all that it does for you.

You might simply whisper,

Thank you body,

Thank you for all that you do.

And notice if your body naturally relaxes even more as you offer it gratitude.

Give your physical body full permission to rest.

In just a few moments,

You will deepen this experience of rest and renewal by connecting with your inner flame beneath a sky full of stars.

As we travel,

Know that our ultimate intention is to help you rest and recover from burnout,

So you are encouraged to fall asleep whenever it comes naturally.

Take this journey lightly,

Releasing any pressure to stay awake until the end.

You can always return to the guided imagery at a later time if you choose to.

But for now,

Take a long,

Slow breath in,

And out,

Melting with a sigh as you exhale,

And then turn your attention to the canvas of your mind's eye.

Upon this canvas,

Paint a path that leads through an enchanted forest,

And imagine that it's surrounded by a deep,

Violet,

Starlit sky,

With tall,

Evergreen trees lining both sides.

And as I count from one to ten,

Travel along this pathway,

Allowing its magic to slowly unfold as we go.

So,

One,

Taking your first step,

Noticing the rich,

Chestnut soil beneath you.

Two,

Inhale as you reach your crown towards the cosmos above.

And three,

Exhale as your shoulders melt towards the earth.

Four,

Your heart opens to the possibility of deep rest and renewal.

As five,

All of your inner senses come alive.

Six,

Admiring the dense,

Healthy plant life that lines this fertile path.

Seven,

Savoring the lively fragrance of pine and cedar.

Eight,

You relax deeper and deeper with each step that you take.

As nine,

A flickering amber glow appears up ahead of you.

And finally,

Ten,

You arrive at a small clearing in the woods,

Where a small but steady campfire,

Packed with glowing embers,

Radiates golden light and warmth.

Take a moment to visualize this calm and quiet inner landscape.

Rich soil covers the earth beneath your feet.

Evergreen trees encircle the clearing you stand in.

And a vast dome of infinite stars,

Held against a backdrop of midnight violet light,

Encircles you.

Take a long,

Slow breath to fully arrive,

Grounding to the earth as you breathe out.

The air is cool and refreshing against your cheeks,

As a gentle breeze rustles through the trees.

Envision the warm and comfortable clothing that cocoons your body.

And now turn your attention to the slow burning fire,

To the glowing embers that cast soft orange and golden flickers of light across the earth.

The fire warms your body and comforts your soul,

Awakening something deep and meaningful within you.

Go ahead and take a seat next to this fire.

And as you settle into your seat,

Perhaps on a bench or cushion,

Or maybe even directly upon the soil,

Feel your connection to the ground beneath you.

It is solid and steady,

Providing unconditional support and energy.

And as your body anchors to this rich,

Life-giving earth,

Your mind begins to settle,

Growing calm and quiet.

Gaze into the glowing embers before you,

Feeling the nourishment of their warm,

Luminous presence.

These radiant embers represent the fire that is always within you,

The flames of your energy,

Your passion,

And your spirit.

However,

Due to the demands of life,

And the exhaustion these demands can lead to,

You might notice that the inner flame has dimmed,

And it might not burn as brightly as you know that it can.

This dimming is a natural response to life's challenges.

If your inner flame were to always burn bright,

Regardless of the circumstances around you,

It would leave you feeling depleted.

And slowing down and taking time to restore your energy is a necessary part of life.

The dim flame is also a signal that your spirit,

Your passions,

And your overall energy field are in need of caring attention.

It is a reminder that your flame is still there,

Waiting to be tended.

So,

As you sit before the low flames and glowing embers,

Reconnect with your felt sense of the rich soil beneath you.

This soil embodies the earth's vital life force,

A force that is here to restore and replenish you.

Imagine that from your sit bones,

Invisible roots descend beneath the surface of the soil.

They extend far and branch out wide,

Deepening your sense of grounding and support.

And then envision that along these roots flow a nourishing,

Restorative force,

Maybe visualized as a deep orange or pale gold light.

This energy travels through the soil and into your body,

Replenishing your entire energy field and bringing balance and peace to your mind and body.

So,

Spend the next few moments to envision this process taking place.

Feel all tension,

All worry,

And any depletion being nurtured and transformed.

And if there are any areas of your body that feel particularly impacted by burnout,

Let the vital energy of the earth concentrate within those parts.

With each slow breath,

You welcome the earth's life force into the full matrix of your being.

Every cell,

Every muscle,

And every fiber is replenished.

And if you hold any stressed or anxious thoughts about your experience of burnout,

Gently surrender them now to the earth.

Allow your mind to become increasingly serene as your physical body is nurtured.

And as your body and mind are brought towards balance,

Become aware of your inner flame,

Symbolized by the slow burning fire before you.

Take a moment to reflect on this inner fire.

In what ways would you like it to grow?

Are there certain things,

Whether projects or family matters or spiritual practice,

That you'd like to reclaim its energy for?

And as you focus on the type of inner flame you'd like to cultivate,

Be it a flame of increased energy or passion or creativity or all of the above,

Feed the fire with your breath.

As you inhale,

The embers begin to grow brighter and stronger.

And as you exhale,

You release any residual tension or worry.

With each full cycle,

The qualities of your inner flame expand.

Clarity,

Passion,

Creativity,

And purpose are all fueled by your focused attention,

By your willingness to nurture them.

And as you continue to breathe new life into those embers,

Until the fire grows brighter and stronger,

Let it grow to a size that feels both comfortable and inspiring for you.

It should be energizing,

But not overpowering,

Allowing you to maintain balance.

In your life,

Focus your attention on this fire,

Marveling at its deep golden flames.

Each flame flickers with vibrant aliveness,

Dancing towards the cosmos with limitless creative potential.

And notice how the glow of the fire extends now,

Casting warmth and light upon a wider circle of the earth and upon your whole body.

Feel this radiant glow fill your entire being,

From the top of your head to the soles of your feet,

Further restoring your energy field.

Now,

As you marvel at the beauty of the fire before you,

Remember that it represents a very essential part of you,

Your drive,

Your vitality,

And your creativity.

It is worthy of your care and devotion.

By making space in your life to rest and relax and tend to your inner flame,

You can find balance between doing and being,

Between restoration and outward manifestation.

So with the fire burning steadily,

Lift your gaze to the clear night sky overhead.

Countless stars glisten like polished diamonds,

And a full moon shines brightly.

Take a few mindful breaths as you inhale and exhale the wonder,

Potential,

And support of the cosmos.

As you connect with the night sky,

You are reminded of just how vast the universe is,

And in a moment of awakening,

You recognize on a very deep level that you,

Too,

Are a part of this expansive universe.

You recognize that both cosmic and earthly energy are always swirling around you,

And that at any moment you can tap into them.

You can always call upon the earth and the sky to replenish you so that you can tend to the creative passionate fire within.

And as your eyes drift across the night sky,

They land for a few breaths upon the beaming full moon.

This full moon mirrors the glow of your inner flame,

And like fire,

It symbolizes your potential vitality and creativity.

It also reminds you that everything in life has cycles,

That there are times for rest and renewal,

And times for expansion and creation.

Tonight,

You are encouraged to find your own balance between those opposing energies,

To grant yourself the time and space to simply be,

And to commit to the dreams and visions of your inner flame.

And so,

Before you drift into a deep and restorative slumber,

Take a few moments to connect with your yearning to strengthen your inner flame,

And gently ask yourself,

What areas of my life would benefit from more passion,

Energy,

And creative potential?

Your inner flame could support a creative project,

Nurture a relationship,

Or simply provide you with a feeling of aliveness and well-being.

Simply notice what you yearn for the most.

And as the full moon is an ideal time for intention setting,

Take a few moments to create one or two intention statements for how you'd like to balance and direct your energy in the days to come.

If you're unsure of where to begin,

You can use this simple affirmation,

I embrace the ebb and flow of energy within me,

Balancing rest and renewal with expansion and creation.

I embrace the ebb and flow of energy within me,

Balancing rest and renewal with expansion and creation.

Silently repeat these words,

Or any heartfelt intention,

Clearly and confidently at least three times.

And when that's done,

Let your eye rest upon the crackling fire.

As you reconnect with the fire before you,

You might also discover the image of a flame inside of you.

It might be in your belly,

In your chest,

Or in some other part of your body.

Take a few mindful moments to scan your body for it.

And as you become aware of where your inner flame resides,

Take a few breaths to focus on its luminous presence.

Notice its shape,

Its color,

And the temperature it radiates.

Your inner fire burns bright,

In balance with your need for rest and renewal.

As you inhale,

Envision that flame flickering,

Alive with vital life energy.

And as you exhale,

Release any remaining stress,

Fatigue,

Or tension into the soil below.

Allow your body to be restored by the Earth's subtle energy field.

Now,

Before you drift off to sleep,

Take a few moments to think about revel at the beauty of this landscape.

And as you do,

Focus your attention on what feels most inspiring or restorative for you.

You might be drawn to the crackling campfire,

Or to the stars and moon overhead.

Or it might be the chestnut soil that tugs at your attention,

Or the rooted trees that surround you.

Whatever you need most at this time,

Let your awareness rest there.

Attune yourself to its vibration,

And to the wholeness,

Balance,

And peace of this present moment.

Now it's soon time to depart,

And to grant yourself permission to sink into sleep.

Sleep is,

After all,

One of the most effortless and natural ways we can restore ourselves.

So take a few moments to thank this starlit landscape for its gifts.

Thank it for offering both inspiration and restoration,

Encouraging balance between doing and being.

And when you're ready,

Find your way to the path that brought you here.

One,

Begin your journey back along the path,

Staying close to the insight and renewal that was provided to you.

Two,

Knowing that you can return to this place at any time.

Three,

To tend to the flame that is always within you.

Four,

Knowing that there is nothing more you need to do but to surrender.

And that five,

Sleep will continue to replenish your body,

Your mind,

And your spirit.

Six,

Softening your belly as you breathe.

Seven,

Relaxing the muscles in your forehead.

As eight,

You slowly come back to your body,

Feeling your head against the pillow beneath it.

Nine,

Notice the weight of your body on the bed.

And finally,

Ten,

Your awareness arrives back fully to this physical reality,

As you prepare for a final surrender into sleep.

Take a couple of slow,

Deep breaths,

Each exhale a reminder to let go.

And then continue to breathe naturally,

Likening your breath to a rhythmic wave that will gently rock you to sleep.

In the coming days,

There will be plenty of time to make wise use of your inner flame.

But for now,

As you sleep,

Allow it to rest on the back burner.

Give your mind and body full permission to rest now.

And until next time,

Goodnight my friend,

Goodnight.