You live here in this heart,
In this mind,
In this body that tries so hard.
Give yourself a break from the judgment,
The shame,
The guilt.
You are not meant to carry blame like a shadow that follows you for a lifetime.
You are human and sometimes,
Life happens with a force that knocks the wind out of you.
Unexpected storms rise,
Things break,
Things change.
It's not all your fault,
You are not wicked,
You are not broken,
You are becoming.
You can make your precautions,
You can do your best,
That is enough.
But let go of what was never yours to carry,
The blame for things beyond you.
Release it,
Holding it will make you sick,
So breathe,
Surrender and let yourself be.
Begin by finding stillness,
Sit or lie down in a space where you feel safe and held.
Gently close your eyes,
Take a deep breath in,
Moment and slowly breathe out releasing tension from your body.
Again,
Breathe in deeply through the nose and exhale slowly through the mouth.
Let your shoulders drop,
Let your hands rest softly.
Now bring your attention inward,
Notice how you feel,
Notice what thoughts or emotions have been living in you lately.
Especially those tied to shame,
Guilt or self-blame.
There is no need to fight them,
No need to argue with them,
Just see them.
Let them float into your awareness.
Now repeat softly in your mind,
I am human,
I have done my best.
Life is not always in my control.
Feel those words as a balm to your spirit.
Imagine these heavy feelings,
Guilt,
Shame,
Blame as a bundle in your hands.
Perhaps they are wrapped in cloth or shaped like stones.
However they appear,
Just notice this bundle is not who you are.
It is what you have been carrying.
But you don't have to carry it anymore.
Now visualize yourself in a beautiful natural space.
Maybe a quiet forest or a gentle riverbank.
Before you there is soft earth,
Open,
Patient,
Ancient.
Slowly,
Gently offer the bundle to the earth,
Place it down.
And as it touches the soil,
Watch it begin to dissolve,
To be absorbed.
Mother Earth takes it in without judgment.
She knows how to hold it,
She knows how to heal.
Say silently,
This is no longer mine to hold.
I release it,
I surrender,
I am free.
Feel your body lighten,
Feel your breath return fully.
Feel your heart open,
Even if just a little.
Rest here,
Safe,
Unburdened,
Whole.
When you are ready,
Bring your awareness back to the room.
Wiggle your fingers,
Your toes,
Gently open your eyes.
And remember,
You are not broken,
You are becoming.
