Hey,
I'm Heidi,
And I'm so thankful that you're joining me today as we explore loneliness,
Particularly the sense of emptiness that can linger even when you're surrounded by others.
For me,
At times I can enjoy being with others,
But then feel empty when I'm there with them or when I return home.
At times,
Like everything I grasp,
To fill in the emptiness just melts away through my fingers as I reach it,
Like grasping through fog.
It's there,
But I can't hold it.
At times,
The emptiness feeling feels like a dense fog that hovers and waves,
Comes and goes,
Light and heavy.
While often,
We think loneliness or that sense of emptiness comes from a lack of connection with others,
It can also arise from being disconnected from ourselves.
So let's begin here as you start to grab anything you may need to feel safe or comfortable,
Some pillows or a blanket.
As you place yourself in a chair or on the ground,
Getting comfortable as you place your hands in your lap and start settling in,
Roll those shoulders a little bit,
Any last little wiggles to get out as you start closing your eyes or resting them with a soft gaze if you prefer instead.
And from there,
Start focusing on your breath as we bring ourselves inward.
Feel the inhale and the exhale as you breathe.
If you're able,
See if you can breathe just a little bit more deeper into your belly with a little longer exhale as you get more settled in with each breath and bringing awareness in your mind's eye to a cozy cottage just for you.
Sense the fluffy pillows and the fuzzy blanket as it's wrapped around you,
The smell of the wood fireplace and the warmth of the decor with the candles that lights the space with a soft glow.
And as you get all cozied in,
Notice a candle that grabs your attention,
Placing this candle in a bubble within your awareness.
Observe this candle as it represents your connection with yourself,
Giving the candle space and a voice.
What do you notice?
As you do,
See if you can bring neutrality,
For the language here is neutral.
There's not a good or a bad,
A right or a wrong.
It can come as images or colors or movements or shapes or even a knowingness,
Colorful or muted.
It's different for all.
Allow being what it is to be.
As this candle releases like a fog that clears through the day,
Sometimes the fog moves quickly and other times it's slower but always moving.
You can't rush the clearing of fog,
Only observe and with that awareness you can move through.
Is there any insight from the candle?
Bring any compassion in if you need.
Check in on your breath.
There may be awareness of a perception or a different way of looking with perception,
With a fear or a belief,
Or maybe awareness of the need for nature or a need for a creative outlet or whatever it may be for you,
Letting it unfold.
And when you're ready here,
Take a moment and give gratitude for what has been shown to you.
At the bubble,
Take a deep breath in,
If you choose give yourself a nice warm hug or place your hands on your heart center.
And as you start to wiggle your fingers and toes,
Maybe yawn or another deep breath and come back,
I'll leave you with the message.
When emptiness stems from a disconnect within yourself,
External support only masks the feeling.
It's easy to forget the importance of internal connection amid life's chaos.
While connecting with others is essential,
Nurturing your connection with yourself is equally important.
So when the sense of emptiness comes,
Check in with yourself and connect with yourself.
Take care.
