This is a false leaf meditation.
Please begin in a comfortable position by laying down on your back or sitting with a straight back.
If you are laying on your back,
Bend your knees so the soles of your feet are on the floor.
If you are sitting,
Relax your shoulders.
Place your hands on your belly.
And now please bring your attention to your breathing.
Inhale deeply through your nose.
Exhale slowly through your nose.
Relax your toes and feet.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Relax your legs.
Inhale slowly.
And exhale completely.
Relax your back.
Inhale and exhale.
Relax your belly.
Relax your heart.
Inhale and exhale.
Relax your arms,
Your hands and fingers.
Relax your throat.
Relax your head.
Relax your whole face and your jaw.
Inhale and exhale.
Now try to think about what are the things that you want to achieve before the year ends.
What are the things that maybe you want to change about yourself?
What do you want from you?
What do you want from work?
What do you want from your life in general?
Now imagine how would you feel when you achieved those goals.
Maybe you try to visualise what are you wearing,
How the people look around you,
If there's somebody around you in the moment that you achieved those goals.
Try to even think about the smells.
What are the smells around you in that moment?
And really allow yourself to really feel those feelings that you think you will feel once you achieve your goals.
And now I want you to think about those little steps,
All the little steps that you need to do in order to reach your goals.
So here is when we set our intentions.
Think about the changes you see in the world all around you during the autumn.
Leaves change colours and fall from their trees.
Days get shorter.
The air cools.
What other changes do you notice?
How do these changes in the earth affect your inner world?
Just like the natural cycle that many trees go through of shedding leaves to make space for new growth,
We can also shed all ways of thinking and being that aren't helping us to be whole and happy.
Take a few moments to reflect on your life right now.
Are there any places that feel dried up,
Like leaves ready to fall?
You might discover a thought that you are ready to let go of or a behaviour or even a relationship that has come to an end.
Or perhaps you find a part of you that is just ready to change colour.
The important thing here is that you know you have a choice.
When you discover something about yourself or your life that isn't how you want it to be,
You have the power to change.
All of nature experiences constant change.
You are no exception.
You have the power to change too.
Over the next few breaths,
Imagine a cool fresh breeze come through your inner world,
Helping these old leaves to fall.
Make your breathing that breeze.
Breathe fresh air into your cells,
Into your heart,
Your mind,
Your thoughts and feelings.
Keep breathing in this wind of change and allow the old leaves to simply fall away.
You can appreciate their presence if they once held something good for you.
Be grateful and thankful.
Or you can just watch as they dance through the breeze and fall away.
So think about all these limiting beliefs that are on the way,
That they are the obstacle.
And just like the leaves,
Imagine that they are falling down.
All the people,
All the stories that you've been telling you.
Everything that is on the way for you to achieve those goals before the end of the year.
Just let it fall.
Just let it go.
Feel the lightness.
Sometimes letting go can be painful.
If you feel any sadness or anger,
Keep breathing.
Let yourself feel those emotions and when you are ready,
Let those emotions go.
Let them pass with the breeze.
Let this wind of change move through you.
Let it pass right through,
Clearing space in your body and mind for new growth.
Now let the breeze slow down.
Slow your breathing.
Find your inner space and feel that space.
Feel the freshness of new space,
Of new room inside of you.
Can you let yourself just be in this space without thinking of anything in particular,
Without trying to change anything?
Just being in your own space,
Knowing you have made positive changes.
Relax and let yourself be wide open,
Empty space.
Come back now to the feeling of your body.
Feel your whole body as one.
Slowly move your fingers and toes.
Bring your knees in toward your chest.
Hug your knees,
Stretching your lower back.
Roll to one side for a few quiet breaths.
Now use your hands to lift yourself up to a seated position.
Keep your eyes closed.
Sit in a cross-legged position for just a few moments.
Rest your eyes gently on one spot in front of you and just breathe naturally.
Notice what is happening in and around you.
Just notice without interfering.
If you hear a sound,
Notice it and let it go.
If you find yourself thinking about something in particular,
Notice and let it go.
Let's be this way for a minute.
Breathing,
Noticing and let it go.
Now place your hands on your belly.
Feel your breath moving in and out.
Place your hands on your chest.
Feel your heart beat.
And finally stretch both arms overhead.
Reach your fingers to the sky for one big breath and release.
