Thich Nhat Hanh said,
Feelings come and go,
Like clouds in a windy sky.
Conscious breathing is my anchor.
Hi,
It's Justin Francisco.
Right now you may be going through a stressful situation.
This may also possibly be causing you feelings of anxiety and stress.
This is okay.
It's completely normal and okay to feel these natural emotions of anxiety and stress.
The intention of this practice today is to take notice of our stressful and anxious feelings and create some compassion around them.
Then to breathe and gently let go of those feelings,
Thus transcending you into a warm bed of relaxation and peace.
So let's begin.
I invite you to sit up straight or lie down with your hands at your side.
Whatever you feel serves you best in this current moment.
If you haven't closed your eyes yet,
Please slowly do so now and breathe in and out of your nose at your normal rhythm.
Notice and become aware of where in your body you feel the rise as you inhale,
Maybe your chest,
Maybe your stomach.
Remember,
Right now you have nowhere else to be,
But here in this precious sacred moment,
Taking notice of your thoughts and your moment taking care of you.
Let's begin by thinking about whatever it is that is causing you panic,
Stress or anxiety today.
First,
You're going to create a little compassion around these feelings by using the phrase,
And I love that.
Repeat after me out loud or quietly in your mind's eye phrases,
I am feeling anxiety and I love that.
I am feeling stress and I love that.
Let's repeat these one more time.
I am feeling anxiety and I love that.
I am feeling stress and I love that.
Now take a deep breath in,
The deepest breath in you've taken all day.
Hold it for a moment at the top and sigh it out through your mouth fully emptying your belly completely.
Let's do that one more time,
Bringing a breath in through your nose fully as you can,
Hold it for a second at the top and fully exhale all of your air out of you.
Now,
Bringing your breath back to your normal rhythm,
Pay attention and have awareness around the feeling where your breath is coming in through your nose,
Where in your body your movement is and your inhales and on your exhales just bring full complete awareness,
Covering your breath like a blanket covering each inhale and each exhale.
By bringing full awareness to our breath and meditation,
You're releasing what does not serve you and bringing your body and mind and soul in the present moment where peace,
Relaxation and happiness is found.
So for the next few moments,
Let's use our inhales of fresh oxygen as a cleansing tool and a calming tool for your entire body,
Relaxing your entire being on each inhale of new,
Fresh,
Cleansing and calming oxygen.
And each exhale,
Let go and release any leftover tension or tightness you may be feeling,
Whether it's in your body or your mind.
Feel the oxygen from your inhales cleansing and calming your entire being all the way from the tip of your head down through the tips of your toes and fingers and if a thought arises,
Place it on a white fluffy cloud and let it float away and without any judgment,
Just bring your attention back to your inhales and exhales.
When you're ready,
Gently open your eyes.
Not a single human is totally immune to problems,
Challenges or stress but you always have your breath to come back to and bring you into the present moment where peace is found.
Remember,
You are loved and perfect just the way you are.
