Trying to do something new can be overwhelming.
Making a big change in your life can feel insurmountable and often terrifying.
Whether you are choosing this path or it's been chosen for you,
Taking that unfamiliar step can make even the bravest feel uneasy or nervous.
But on the flip side,
Going in a new direction can be thrilling.
You're going somewhere new,
Doing something new with infinite possibilities.
Getting there can feel hard and scary and sometimes you need a little internal compass to help you keep moving forward.
This meditation is going to help you do just that.
So settle in,
Find yourself in a comfortable position.
Let's take this journey together.
Take a deep breath in through your nose,
Close your eyes,
Take another deep breath in through your nose.
Now ground yourself even further into the floor beneath you,
Feeling rooted here as you exhale.
Feel your spine extend and lengthen as you inhale again.
Let that go.
Relaxing your shoulders,
Relaxing your eyebrows,
Your forehead,
Noticing if there's any tension in your body.
Breathe into that now and let it go.
Continue to breathe naturally.
Today we are going to visualize ourselves taking a beautiful walk in the woods.
So let's settle in now and begin our journey.
It starts at a cozy cabin in the woods.
It's quiet and peaceful.
You went there to clear your mind before a big change is about to happen.
You wake up and you get dressed.
You put on a coat,
Put on your sneakers,
Lace them up,
Getting everything ready for your walk.
Standing tall,
You open the door and you take your first step out of the cabin.
There's a really nice cool breeze and you feel the crunch of the leaves and the dirt beneath your feet as you step out.
Take a deep breath in and feel that cool air entering your lungs.
Now let that go.
There's a path in front of you.
It looks perfect for your walk and you decide to go in that direction.
As you walk,
Notice the beautiful scenery around you.
Winter's past and spring is in full swing.
All of the leaves are new and green,
Vibrant.
The walk is easy.
The path is smooth.
So take time just to look around,
Breathe into this ease.
Now as you continue to walk,
You notice the ground becoming a bit rockier.
The path starts to narrow and there's an incline with a steep hill before you.
Walking is harder and more challenging.
You pause.
Do you turn around,
Go back?
Taking a deep breath,
You decide to take a chance and keep walking.
As you walk up the incline,
You notice your legs are getting a little more tired.
They start to burn as you push forward up this hill.
And just when you think you can't take one more step and the doubt creeps in and you think you need to turn around after all,
You notice just a little further up the hill there's a clearing.
You decide to keep walking knowing that this is only going to be uneven.
This is only going to be steep for just a bit longer.
Your steps are slower,
More deliberate,
But soon you're at the end and it's open again.
You've reached the top.
The pain in your legs instantly goes away and a gentle breeze greets you.
Take a deep breath in and let that go and keep walking.
You notice you're feeling a little lighter now.
As the sun peeks in from the trees,
It casts a light on you and warms your skin.
You begin to shed the feelings that no longer serve you with each step.
That stress you were feeling earlier seems further away.
The fear you were feeling is lessening.
The old habit that felt impossible to break seems a little more doable now.
Your steps are more confident.
As you continue,
Breathe into that now.
Stand taller.
Those shoulders are back and your strides are more confident with each step you take.
Going deeper into your walk,
You come across a bridge.
Looks safe enough,
But you hesitate,
Asking yourself,
What's on the other side?
Is it safe?
Will I be okay if I cross it?
The unknown can be scary,
But you take another deep breath and take a step and then another.
You're halfway across and you look over the side.
You realize you're not too high above the ground and that there's a gentle,
Shallow river beneath you.
Take a moment here and watch the river flowing.
The steadiness of it.
Notice how the water continues to keep flowing no matter what's in its path.
It never hesitates.
It keeps moving around the boulders and rocks in front of it.
Always moving,
Always flowing.
With one more glance at the river,
You continue over the bridge and look back realizing it wasn't as scary as you initially thought.
Your walk is coming to an end as the road bends and leads you in the direction of your cabin.
As you walk down the path,
Take this time to reflect on the changes in your life you've already successfully accomplished.
Moving to a new place,
Healing after a breakup,
Going off to college,
Starting a job,
Maybe running a 5k.
In those moments,
You took a step,
You walked the path,
You overcame the obstacles and you came out the other side.
Let that sink in now.
All of the things you've already accomplished,
All of the things that felt scary,
That you were able to overcome.
You've already walked hard paths and you know that you have that ability within you.
As you take the final steps to your cabin and reach your destination,
You feel refreshed,
Renewed,
Accomplished and happy you found a new path to walk.
Realize that the journey you are on now is just like this walk.
There will be times when you feel like the path is smooth and your steps are light.
There will be times when it's rocky and you have to slow down to navigate something a little uncomfortable.
There may even be bridges,
Crossroads,
Those unknown times of not knowing what's on the other side.
But like the river,
You keep moving steady over the obstacles,
Past the unknown,
Not letting them stop you,
Transitioning from where you are to where you want to go.
And soon the unknown path becomes the norm with the sunshine casting a warm light reminding you that you're exactly where you should be.
That you gave yourself grace and time,
That you pushed forward and are strong enough to get there.
It always seems impossible until it's done.
It doesn't matter how long it takes,
Just that you keep moving forward one step at a time.
Take a deep breath in,
Let it go.
Take another deep breath in,
Exhale audibly out through your mouth.
Slowly start to bring yourself back to the room with your eyes remaining closed.
Wiggle your toes,
Roll your shoulders back.
Now open your eyes and get ready to take that first step.
And whenever you need it,
Pause,
Take a deep breath and then continue again.
Have a great day.
