Welcome to Meditation Tides with Michelle Sanctuary.
Let the sound waves of peace wash over you as you ground your energy and find comfort.
You are listening to Dealing with Change,
A meditation to help navigate the unexpected and sometimes unwanted changes that come with life.
I am Michelle and you may think of me as a support system and nurturing guide.
I am here to remind you of your innate ability to self-soothe and see your way through this period of flux.
With a calm and regulated nervous system,
Everything else will become easier and you will find the clarity to honor your needs and adapt.
Find a safe,
Quiet place to settle.
Close your eyes gently and turn your gaze inward.
Note any parts of your body that are holding on to discomfort,
Dis-ease,
Or anxiety.
Sometimes change makes us feel unlike ourselves,
Bringing a frenzy of nervous energy,
But right now you may tend to these feelings.
Acknowledge them and honor where they show up.
Your body is always doing its best to keep you safe.
Change can feel as if it is something your body needs to protect you from,
But now let out a deep sigh and cast all these feelings away,
Like the eye within a storm.
You may find the calm within all these changes as you get to the center of them.
Feel the weight of your body on the surface beneath you and take a deep breath.
As your lungs inflate,
Feel gratitude for the life support each breath brings.
Visualize these molecules of oxygen traversing through the pathways in your body,
Bringing encouragement and peace.
No matter what unfolds,
Here you are,
Still breathing,
Still full of life and vitality.
Let out a sigh and honor the parts of you that are strong and resilient.
The parts that have made it through many changes and yet remain loyal and committed to your greater good.
When you're ready,
Inhale through your nose,
This time taking in a sense of comfort as you self-soothe.
Let yourself know that everything is okay.
Okay may not look ideal,
It may not be how you wish things to be.
As you exhale in a relaxing sigh,
Say to yourself,
I am okay.
Enjoy one more conscious breath as you inhale,
Breathing in the confidence that you can observe all the changes with detachment.
Focus on your priority to stay calm and self-soothe.
Feel your heart rate slowing down,
Your muscles becoming soft as you exhale and their fibers releasing as you let it all out.
Return your breath to normal but retain a sense of fluidity.
Imagine yourself taking on the delicate nature of a willow tree.
The wind and weather always changing,
Yet the willows adapt,
Surrendering to the unavoidable movement.
And even as they do,
They maintain their original form and integrity.
As they adapt,
They don't disappear or lose themselves.
They continue to thrive.
Imagine yourself perched beneath a willow tree,
Lying on your back.
The sun filters through the lush green strands that sashay back and forth.
As you sink into the soft grass,
Patterns of shadows and light dance around you.
You inhale the sweet nectar of nearby flowers.
Soothed by the quiet swoosh of the willows,
Your head sinks into a small jewel-toned throw pillow that rests against the sturdy trunk.
Notice the gentle balance of the tree,
Both strong and grounded,
Yet at the same time flexible and resilient.
Imagine the parts of you that you wish to be sturdy and unyielding like the trunk.
Your self-esteem,
Your sense that everything will be okay,
The parts of you that you enjoy and love most about yourself,
Your confidence,
Your intentions for this life.
Feel free to add anything else to this list as you honor and protect each one with the trees,
Roots and trunk.
And now turn your attention to what becomes flexible within you.
Sense what it would be like to have a flexible nervous system.
A feeling of fluidity flows through your body like the warm gentle turquoise waves of a cove.
It soothes the fray,
Calming the electric activity of nerves adapting to change.
In the eye of all this change,
You find stillness,
Letting go and being bendable and adaptable to the things beyond your control.
Saving all the energy you can to focus on what is within your control and what brings you peace and harmony within.
The experience of being you is the one that is most important in each moment.
It's the experience only you truly understand and have the most influence on.
Enjoy the peaceful image of you lying beneath the willows,
Knowing that all is well and all the movement around you cannot disrupt or affect the core of peace within.
Enjoy a few easy breaths,
Sealing in the sense of ease that comes when you are mindful and grounded.
Knowing you are strong,
You are capable,
You are resilient and you've got this.
Flutter open your eyes when you feel ready as you bask in a protective globe of energy that surrounds you as you return to your day.
No matter what changes come your way,
The image of you and the willow tree remains in your mind's eye,
Reminding you of balance.
Thank you for your time and practice and have a wonderful day.
