Hello and welcome.
My name is Kazaya Gibbons.
I'm a meditation teacher here on Insight Timer and today's theme is positive intentions.
The core of our practice today is the presupposition that every behaviour has a positive intention.
What this means is that when a behaviour has ceased to service,
If we can find the positive intention,
We can invite a change in the behaviour while still honouring that intention.
This may happen on an unconscious level.
Some examples of ways this can be applied include pain management,
The handling of difficult thoughts and emotions,
Phobias and habit change.
So I wonder now if you're ready to try this practice and if you can think of a behaviour,
Something that you do that no longer serves you and that you like to change.
Our practice for today is a relaxed visualisation to facilitate that change.
And when I say visualisation,
You don't have to be really comfortable with creating images out of the air.
It's more like something that you imagine in whatever way is comfortable for you.
So you might see images or hear sounds,
Feel sensations or just know that something is true.
So if you can set your intention now to being open to co-creating this visualisation,
With the purpose of changing that unwanted behaviour by finding a more constructive way to honour the positive intention.
And then come into your practice space.
And as you settle,
You can ask yourself if you're ready to create the conditions now in which change can occur.
So settling yourself down.
Making sure you're really comfortable for the duration of this practice.
In a safe and comfortable space where you won't be disturbed.
Aware of your body.
Aware of your breathing.
And letting yourself,
If you will,
Relax into the practice.
Having any thoughts to come and go.
Closing your eyes now if you haven't already.
Having your body to be completely supported while you're resting.
Hearing my voice and going inside.
And if it is easy for you,
You might want to notice your breath.
Feeling just how deeply you may be breathing.
Allowing your mind to rest in that process.
And inviting your unconscious now to participate fully in this practice.
And I wonder now if you can start to find somewhere inside yourself the ability to imagine forest growth.
And as you find,
You can imagine yourself.
In that growth.
Sitting or lying.
You know that this is a safe space.
A held space.
And that you can allow yourself to relax and be held here.
And running through the growth is a little stream.
Which pools in front of you before flowing on and away.
Just drifting past.
And sitting opposite you.
On the other side of the stream.
You notice a guide.
And this guide may appear to you in their own form.
But as you gaze at them you know that they are here to guide you through this process.
And you may feel gratitude.
Or peace in their presence.
And as you rest here.
In this held space.
This safe space.
The forest grove with the pool and the gently burbling stream.
You come into yourself.
And you hear your guide ask you.
Have you brought with you today something which you wish to change?
And you gaze into the pool and you see there something which represents the behaviour which you are ready to release now.
And your guide asks you.
Are you ready and willing to work with me now?
To release this behaviour and replace it with something new.
Something positive.
And you search inside yourself.
And in the stillness your answer is clear.
And your guide asks you if you can find that there is a purpose behind this behaviour.
And your gaze drops into the still pool.
And you find that the image of the behaviour is simply a reflection on the surface.
And as you go deeper you know that there is something else there.
Something with your best intentions at heart.
And whether you can make it out or whether you don't yet know it.
It is enough that it is there and wants the best for you.
And you give thanks for this.
And your guide invites you to speak to the pool.
Lean in,
Whisper.
And you are drawn towards the pool with its still quiet depths.
Then you open your mouth and you ask for a gift.
You ask for that positive intention.
It's something that just wants the best for you.
To begin to generate four or five or maybe more different ways to fulfil that positive intention.
In a way that serves your whole interests here now.
And as you speak a gust of wind takes your words and dances across the surface of the pool.
Breaking up the image of the behaviour.
So that you don't quite yet know what will be on the surface when it comes.
But you know that that behaviour is gone.
And you are aware of the flowing nature of the stream that runs through the forest glade.
Through the pool.
Taking away the old and no longer helpful.
Bringing in new,
Fresh,
Invigorating possibilities that serve you well.
And you know that this process is going on in the depths of the water even if you cannot see it.
So you raise your gaze to your guide and convey your thanks.
And you're ready to come out now as you let your attention return from the pool and the stream aware of yourself in the forest glade.
Knowing that you can always come back here whenever you need to.
And then releasing that visualisation and any energy that comes with it.
Coming back to awareness once again.
Aware of your body.
Aware of your breathing.
And if you want to stay here for a while or to slip into restful sleep,
That's okay.
But if you're ready to come out now,
Relaxed and alert,
You can extend your awareness out to the room around you.
Aware of the sounds.
Aware of the light.
Any aromas.
Once again,
Aware of your body.
Any sensations or emotions that you have now.
And you might want to begin to stretch.
Wiggle your fingers or your toes and open your eyes.
Ready and with a strong intention to enjoy the rest of your day with presence and peace.
Thank you for sharing this practice with me.
