So often,
When life gives us lemons,
That horrible feeling,
Our suffering,
Is made worse by our frustration,
Our lack of acceptance and our resistance to what's happening.
We hold on so tightly to how we think things should be,
And this really does create tension in our body and in our mind,
Which just makes things worse.
So today we'll explore together how to release some of that tension and find a sense of ease and acceptance,
Remembering always that life is life and some things are outrageous and unacceptable,
But they do happen.
Remember also that resistance is natural,
We all do it,
There's nothing wrong with you.
We are all so similar.
None of us wants to suffer and we all want to be happy.
But just as the resistance is a natural response,
If we take the time to sit with our feelings to notice them,
We can invite in a release,
We really can,
And over time and with practice it can help us avoid magnifying and intensifying our pain and suffering.
As I said,
Inviting in a little more ease,
So that's not to cover over or pretend things aren't happening,
It's just about making our experience of life a little bit easier.
Let's begin by finding a position that gives a sense of both strength and softness.
So you might want to imagine your spine as a strong tree,
Providing support and dignity,
While the front of your body remains soft and open.
Bring back soft belly.
And take a moment to settle into this position,
Feeling the points where your body connects with the surface beneath you,
Maybe your feet on the floor,
Maybe your bum on the chair or the sofa.
Feel how you're supported,
There's no effort needed on your part,
Bringing your attention,
Your awareness to your breath,
Noticing where you feel it most.
Perhaps at the nose,
Maybe the air feels cooler as it enters and warmer as it leaves,
Or maybe you notice the gentle rise and fall of your chest or belly.
You don't need to change anything,
Simply observe the natural flow of your breath.
And in this way,
By adopting a posture,
Strong back,
Soft belly,
By noticing how we're supported by the surface we're resting on,
And by noticing the breath,
We can bring ourselves out of our busy lives and into this moment,
A moment that you've set aside for yourself,
Which is a wonderful thing.
Let's scan through the body,
Inviting release.
Start with your forehead.
We can often hold quite a lot of tension here without realising it.
Allowing,
Inviting any tension in the forehead to release,
To dissolve,
Letting go,
Letting go.
Let your eyes become softer,
Letting go.
Release your jaw,
Let your teeth part slightly,
Sense your shoulders,
They really do carry our daily burdens.
With each out breath,
Can you let them fall away from your ears a little?
Letting go,
Letting go.
Feel the strength of your back supporting you,
While your belly remains soft and open to the breath.
You're safe here and no one needs anything from you right now.
What brought you to this practice today?
What are you hoping to release or soften?
Imagine yourself,
Visualise,
Bring to life in your mind's eye.
You're standing barefoot on the grass at the edge of a crystal clear stream.
Watch how the clear water moves,
How it flows.
Notice the sound of the water.
The surface of the stream isn't smooth.
There are twigs,
Branches and rocks.
When the stream meets a rock,
Notice how it doesn't fight or struggle.
It flows over it,
It flows around it.
The water finds a new path.
Watch the water as it flows.
The water never loses its essential nature.
The stream is the stream,
Regardless of the obstacles it encounters.
Bring to mind a current situation that's causing you tension and resistance.
Something that you wish was different.
Imagine that situation.
Bring to mind the people involved.
Remember what has happened.
And as you bring this challenging situation to mind,
Scan your body and notice any feelings that bringing this situation to mind brings up in your body.
How does this situation make you physically feel?
What does it do to your mind,
Your emotions?
Is there tightness,
Heaviness?
Do you tense up?
Does your breath change?
Just observe without judgement.
Now imagine this situation as rocks,
Twigs and logs in your stream.
Instead of fighting against it,
Can you be more like water?
What would it feel like to accept that the situation is real?
You don't have to like it,
But you flow with the situation,
Over the situation,
Around the situation,
Rather than try and resist it.
You trust your own ability to find your way,
Just as the water always finds its path.
What would it feel to be more like water?
Notice any shifts in your body as you play with this perspective.
Can you invite inner softening?
Letting go.
Letting go.
Let these words wash over you,
Like a stream.
I release my resistance to what is.
Like water,
I trust in the flow of life.
I know there are rocks in every stream,
Just as there are challenges in every life.
I let go of forcing and controlling,
And trust in my journey.
I release my resistance to what is.
I don't have to like it,
But I release my resistance to it.
Like water,
I trust in the flow of life.
I know there are rocks in every stream,
Just as there are challenges in every life.
I let go of forcing and controlling,
I invite in ease and acceptance,
And I trust in my journey.
Let's do that one more time,
As we listen to the sounds of the water.
I don't have to like it,
And I'm not minimizing anything,
But I release my resistance to what is.
Like water,
I flow with life,
And I trust in the flow of life.
I know there are rocks in every stream,
Just like there are challenges in every life.
And in the name of ease,
And not magnifying my suffering,
I'm working to let go of forcing and controlling.
I trust in my journey.
Rest here for a moment,
Letting go,
Letting go.
And when you're ready,
Slowly bring your awareness back to your body.
Feel its weight.
Notice the temperature of the air on your skin,
And any sounds around you.
Well done.
Again,
You might want to take a deep,
Full breath.
And when you're ready,
Gently open your eyes.
Learning to flow with life,
Rather than resist it,
Is a practice.
It's a journey,
It's not a destination.
You can,
We can,
Return to these practices,
These words,
Whenever you feel yourself tensing against life.
Each time you practice,
You strengthen your capacity to move through life with more grace,
More compassion,
And a little bit more ease.
It doesn't change anything or cover over anything.
But it does improve your experience of life,
And particularly the rocks in your stream.
Thank you so much for practicing with me today.
