Sometimes,
The mind sounds like a constant stream of what ifs,
But today,
We're going to gently turn them into something steadier and kinder,
Something that will bring you back to yourself and not have to fix everything.
So find a comfortable position in the space that you're in,
Either sitting or lying down.
And gently close down your eyes,
And take a deep breath in through the nose,
And out through the mouth.
Again,
Deep inhale in through the nose,
And sigh it out.
Allow your shoulders to drop.
Allow the muscles between your eyes to relax,
Your jaw to unclench and soften,
And perhaps the tongue,
Release it from the top of your mouth,
And give yourself permission to arrive here in this moment.
So often,
The mind moves ahead of us,
Trying to reach into the future and solve problems that aren't even problems yet.
Often it asks us,
What if?
What if I fail?
What if they don't like me?
What if this is too much for me to handle?
Now notice with me how those words feel.
Those what ifs can tighten up your body,
It can raise our heart rate and activate our nervous system into an endless maze of problems and solutions,
And propel us into a sense of urgency that wasn't there before.
But today,
We're not going to try to stop those thoughts.
Instead we are going to meet them differently.
Together we will practice when what if arises,
How we can gently reshape it from what if to even if.
Even if I mess up,
I can keep going and keep trying.
Even if they don't like me,
I can handle that feeling and choose how I want to respond.
Even if I mess up,
I've learned and grown and can take another step forward in the right direction.
Now stay here with me for a moment and allow a few of your own what if thoughts to arise.
Even if this is hard,
I can ask for support and I can try my best.
Even if I don't know what to do,
I can ask for help and try my best.
As you begin to change these what ifs to even ifs,
Notice how things shift within your body.
Is there a little more room to breathe?
Perhaps your heart rate slows just a little.
Even if doesn't promise everything will be easy and go the way that you want it to,
But it reminds you that you are capable of meeting whatever comes your way.
You don't have to solve every thought and every problem and you don't have to answer every question that arises for you.
Some of these thoughts can simply pass through while you stay here rooted and grounded where you are.
So as you continue about your day to day,
If your mind begins the spiral of what ifs,
See if you can gently return to even if.
Even if this is hard,
I can be here with it.
Even if I'm struggling,
I can put one foot in front of the other.
Even if fear arises,
It does not need to take the lead.
Now take one more deep breath in and a long slow exhale out and carry this with you today that everything does not need to be figured out and solved and you can trust yourself to handle what does unfold,
Even if it's not what you expected.
