Hello,
Friend.
Welcome.
My heartfelt invitation for you is to welcome all of yourself here for this next short while,
Knowing and trusting that you are being held with absolute acceptance and compassion.
If you are finding everything too much right now,
Too hard,
Too painful,
Please know that you are so not alone.
Everything feels hard right now because it is hard.
There's a lot unfolding in the world that creates fear and uncertainty or overwhelm to our already overstimulated systems.
And it's why carving out these pockets of stillness and space is so very important.
It's medicine.
And the more often we remember to come home to this cocoon we each hold at the core of our being,
The greater the protection we have against the noise and the busyness.
One of the most potent channels to this stillness,
To this sacred pause is through the breath.
However intense the world,
Our lives,
Even our own minds are,
The breath is the anchor that can guide us back to presence.
Anytime we remember to ask,
There are many beautiful forms of breath work available.
But what we're going to practice here today is the most simple of all.
All we will do is stay with each single breath at a time,
Silently saying,
Just this breath.
Just this breath.
This is a practice that has guided me through many a dark night of the soul when the intensity of what I was moving through felt just too much.
All I would do is keep my focus on one single breath at a time.
And that was enough.
And then the next one.
And the next.
I invite you now to find a position that feels comfortable,
Either seated or lying.
If it's helpful,
Closing over the eyes or lowering the gaze,
Drawing the shoulders downward just a little if that's available.
And if there is any tensing or tightening in the body,
Seeing if you can soften it now.
And calling awareness onto your breath now,
Beginning to track its cycle.
And knowing that the mind will get busy.
That's what minds do.
And emotions will arise.
Let them.
All you need to do is stay with the breath.
One breath at a time.
There is nothing else in the world to do right now.
But feel your breath.
Feel your breath.
All your awareness onto the breath.
Drawing a new breath in.
And each time you exhale,
Silently repeating,
Just this breath.
Just this breath.
When memories arise or thoughts intrude,
Give them a nod.
You see them.
But right now,
You are staying fully with your breath.
Breathing in.
And on the exhale,
Just this breath.
No planning or worrying or fixing needed.
No need to go any further ahead than your next breath.
I am going to gently bring the practice to a close for now.
You are welcome to stay with it a little longer.
And remembering that any time things feel too much,
This breath is here to welcome you home and anchor you back to stillness again.
One steady,
Intentional breath at a time.
At a time wishing peace and presence for you as you move through your days.
