This is Justin Michael Williams and welcome to your practice.
Sometimes we expect our parents to be perfect.
And sometimes we forget to remember that they too are just people who have their own struggles and their own mental demons and their own worries just like you.
And if you get triggered by your parents or anyone really,
This compassion-based practice will help you out.
Start by getting comfortable and remembering you can move anytime you need to in this practice.
Place a hand over your heart,
Just one hand right over your chest.
And if you feel comfortable,
Close your eyes.
And take a deep breath in through your nose and an exhale through your mouth.
Do that again.
Deep breath in through the nose and open the mouth.
Let it go.
Last time,
But this time I want you to take a deep inhale through your nose and hold it.
Go ahead and do it.
Hold it.
And when we exhale,
I'm going to want you to sigh it out and make a sound like you're releasing anxiety and stress on my count of three.
One,
Two,
Three.
Exhale.
Just letting it all go.
Now just breathe normally,
Keeping a hand over your heart so long as it feels comfortable to you.
And start by picturing one of your parents as a child.
Visualize them as clearly as you can.
Notice what are they wearing in your mind?
What color is it?
What expression is on their face?
What body position are they in?
Are they sitting still or are they moving?
Are they indoor or outdoor?
You might even notice what it might smell like where they are.
And now notice how this visualization makes you feel.
Seeing your parent in your mind like this,
Just what feeling comes up for you?
You can welcome all of it.
All emotions,
All feelings.
Anything that comes is allowed and I mean anything.
Now imagining this child version of your parent.
I want you to think about how they've suffered in their life.
Imagine their fears and their conflicts,
Their losses,
The heartbreaks that they've had.
Maybe even their failures and just let any of it come up for you.
Whatever arises,
Welcome it.
Give yourself a few moments now to have full permission to really think about it without worrying too much about accuracy or truth or timing.
Just imagine and welcome what arises as it relates to any suffering your parent may have faced as a child.
If your mind has started to wander,
That's okay.
It's totally normal to want to avoid this a little bit.
So just bring it back.
Bring it back.
What might have been your parent's pain?
Now repeat after me,
Either in your mind or with a whisper.
Whatever you prefer.
Just make sure you repeat the words.
Just like me,
This person has suffered.
Just like me,
This person has pain.
May we both find peace.
Again,
And this time I want you to really imagine the child version of your parent in your mind as you repeat these words.
We're repeating this in service to them and in service of your relationship.
Just like me,
This person has suffered.
Just like me,
This person has pain.
May we both find peace.
Now one more time,
We're going to do this one more time,
But this time I want you to imagine your parent as an adult in the present time.
And just to give you a second to transition there,
Imagine what they're wearing and what expression is on their face as you imagine them in your mind.
What position is their body in?
What color is their hair and their eyes?
Get as clear of an image as you can in your mind.
And it doesn't have to be perfect,
Just whatever shows up,
Know that that's exactly what you need in this practice.
Welcome what arises and repeat after me.
Just like me,
This person has suffered.
Just like me,
This person has pain.
May we both find peace.
And now for the next several moments,
Imagine sending them the energy of loving kindness,
Compassion,
Acceptance,
Sending all that good energy to them right now.
And take a deep breath in and a deep breath out.
And if you're ready to transition,
Go ahead and open your eyes.
This may be a helpful time to journal a little bit,
Just reflecting on what you might have learned or experienced in this process.
And remember,
All emotions are welcome,
All of them,
Not just the positive ones.
I want you to get into a practice of welcoming everything.
That's where the healing is.
It is a great honor to practice with you today.
I send you love,
Compassion,
And the biggest blessings.
Namaste.
