A Place Of Calm

It is hard to be quiet when your mind is overwhelmed, overstimulated. And while it is true, that we don't actually have control over many of the situations or events that swirl around us... we can take a moment to remind ourselves that we are alright. Come sit with me. It's a short meditation. Though you might decide to use it before bed to help to calm your mind. This is a meditation that can be used to great effect at anytime throughout the day... when you just want to step off the crazy train.

Transcript

Welcome, Welcome each of you. My name is Karen. Begin by finding a position that feels comfortable, Supportive for your body right now, Whether that's seated or lying down. If you're comfortable closing your eyes, You can, And if not, Just keep your eyes with a softened focus, With a slightly downward turned gaze. You're welcome exactly as you are. There's nothing you need to fix or change. We're going to create a space, A space that feels safe, A place of stillness, Stillness within uncertainty. The fact is, Life is full of uncertainties. It can get messy and chaotic. It can feel challenging to be still when it seems that we're surrounded by chaos. But there is within you a place that exists, That is quiet, A place where even though it is surrounded by seeming chaos, There is calm. Begin to notice the quality of your thoughts. Our thoughts might be pretty chaotic. They can seem to be running amok most of the time. But see if you can rest just a light awareness or focus there, Not following one thought or another, But instead just allowing the thoughts to move in and out of focus. And if you notice that your mind is resting too heavy or too long on one thought, Try to shift your awareness to your breath. Simply step away from those thoughts. We can often detect underlying emotion in our breath. Where do you feel your breath? No need to change it. Just feel it. It's perfect. It's telling you how you feel. Simply notice what's there, Lightly resting on your breath. Feel it coming and going. Not trying to change it or alter it. There's no need to lengthen it or deepen it. Just become aware of its changing nature. The body has a great capacity to do what it does, Whether you're paying attention or not. And this is a great opportunity to simply watch the infinite wisdom of the body. Notice how easily the breath moves, How the breath can change, How the breath sounds in your head or your throat. Do you hear your breath? You may become aware of sounds in and around you, Not looking for sounds, But allowing them to come, Allowing them to move through you, Just as you do your breath, And allowing any thoughts to be just like sounds coming and going with your breath. Well before the brain can cognize what emotion it's experiencing, The body is responding to whatever stimuli is perceived. The body is in its own experience of shifting, Tightening, Breathing, Adapting. And when stimuli moves in, Whether through sight, Sound, Touch, Taste, Smell, The body is going to respond by releasing hormones, Changing its nervous system, Depending on what the stimuli can be. And in those times of uncertainty, We often find ourselves shifting into the sympathetic nervous system. But rather than letting yourself react to those momentary images, Words, Thoughts, Or sounds that might trigger you into an emotional reaction, Simply look at them as passing states. Notice the sensations changing in the body, And watch them as they rise and fall, Allowing them to come and go, Just as you do your breath, And returning your attention once again to lightly rest on your breath. If you notice that your mind has wandered, Come back, Come back. We're not trying to solve anything right now, Not looking for a solution, Just allowing time to sit, And to know that in this moment of uncertainty, In this stillness, That you're alright. Notice the sensation of being supported by the chair, Or the floor, Or your bed. Imagine that wherever you are, You're like a beautiful oak tree, Tall and strong, With roots descending deep down, Down deep into Mother Earth, Anchoring you safely there. You are alright. Allow your attention once again to shift back to your breath. Imagine your breath is like a blanket, Wrapping itself around you, Protecting you. Know that within you, You have all that you need. And while we can't know what the future holds, We can know that we are always in a state of becoming. Trust that you are supported by the universe, Just as you are supported by Mother Earth right now. Again, Visualize your roots reaching down deep into Mother Earth, And wrap yourself in your breath. Allow yourself to breathe in love, To breathe out love, To breathe in hope, And to breathe out hope. We cannot know what our future holds, And the best that we can do is to lay out as many conditions as possible for good fortune and positive outcomes. But even in the event that something does go awry, Know that this is exactly what is meant to happen. You are allowed to be frightened or anxious, To feel angry or sad. You are entitled to any emotion, But that you are also entitled to sit in stillness and to pause, To remind yourself that this moment too will pass. And that you have everything you will need. As you're ready, Begin to re-presence yourself back into the space where you are now. Know that this meditation tool can travel with you anywhere, So that in those moments of overwhelm, You can find that stillness within. And allow your breath to wrap itself around you, To nourish you, To sit or stand in stillness. And allow your roots to dig deep into the earth, To hold you safe, To remind you that you are enough. Namaste.