Hi folks,
In this meditation you'll discover,
Hopefully,
How rest and relaxation are never far away.
By giving yourself permission to pause,
And by approaching meditation with curiosity,
Patience and a little trust,
You'll find that stress can melt away all by itself.
But first,
Get comfy.
Find a posture that feels natural,
One in which you feel at home in your body.
And take a few moments to check in,
Appreciating all that's good and right in this moment.
Noticing the rhythmic rise and fall of the breath.
The simple and reassuring beat of your heart.
The steady rising and passing of sounds.
Or perhaps the sweetness of a momentary silence.
Cultivate a sense of wonder for all that you experience.
A childlike interest in the thoughts you think.
A gentle attentiveness to any emotion you feel.
And you might also notice the warmth of your body.
Appreciating the sensitivity of your skin to the air around you.
And to the surfaces beneath you.
And while we're here resting,
Perhaps you can spare a moment to marvel at all that the body does.
And to spend some time listening out for any messages it might be trying to convey.
It may be that you've had a busy day,
Or week,
Or month.
Or it may be that you've had a quiet and cruisy one.
Either way,
Give yourself permission to rest.
Let it be okay to push pause on your regular life.
Just for a few minutes.
And you can celebrate this time out by enjoying a few lovely deep breaths.
Savouring the life-giving energy of the inhalation.
And the long languid release as you breathe out.
Perhaps savouring a brief pause after each out-breath.
Take your time.
Let the breath be a full body massage.
Gentle,
Slow and soft.
Feel the chest and belly soften as your lungs empty.
And you might even luxuriate in a lazy yawn.
Letting the jaw relax and the muscles of the neck go slouch.
And then let the breath fall back into its own natural rhythm.
Letting things settle,
Like snowflakes falling on a still day.
And just for a moment,
Let your attention be drawn outward into the space or room around you.
And let this space be a vessel for all that you experience.
A safe and welcoming container for everything that visits.
Sounds,
Sensations,
Breath.
Thoughts and emotions.
Images and memories.
Let them all be welcome.
Welcome restfulness and restlessness.
Contentment and boredom.
Wakefulness and fatigue.
A busy mind.
Or a quiet one.
Joys and sorrows.
Let it all be valid.
All welcome.
Let it all come and go.
Or even stay a while.
As best you can,
Create a space in which everything has a place.
Let there be room for all sorts of visitors.
And you may notice that there are guests that don't need much from you.
They're like nomads passing through.
Others want to be the center of attention.
And some need your tenderness,
An ear,
Your patience to be wrapped up in your kindness.
So you might breathe into any contracted places inside.
Enveloping any pain you feel,
Any tension you feel with the most warm and compassionate parts of yourself.
Saturate this moment with your own loving presence.
Remember there's no need to hold back.
Remember there's no need to hold it all together.
No need to reject the tender parts within.
Let life in.
Perhaps even letting go.
Just for a moment of any hopes and expectations you might have.
Letting go of the need to feel more relaxed.
Letting go of the need to feel different.
Letting go of the need to have a good meditation.
Letting go of the need to let go.
Simply trusting that things will settle with their own accord.
If you can just find the courage to tend to the wounded and tender places within.
If you can let yourself feel.
If you can let yourself become a connoisseur of discomfort.
And a connoisseur of rest and relaxation.
Savouring the sting of all that's painful.
And the soothing qualities of all that's pleasant.
And just resting now.
Let your attention be guided to the places within.
Knowing that all you really need is a little patience.
A little trust.
And a little tenderness.
