All relationships go through natural changes over time.
When we want to end a relationship with someone we have love for,
We may feel conflicted,
Unsure of whether or not we're making the right decision.
Although we can't control their reaction,
We can approach the breakup with a sense of mindfulness and compassion for all involved.
So in this meditation,
I invite you to honor yourself and your lover by using your mind and your breath.
Let's begin by getting comfortable.
Settling into the space you're in.
Maybe you're seated.
Maybe you're lying down.
Just resting.
Perhaps taking in the environment around you.
Noticing any colors,
Any sounds,
Smells.
And when you're ready,
Receiving a deep inhale through the nose and on the exhale,
Allowing your eyes to close.
Softening into the surface beneath you.
Allowing gravity to rest your muscles.
And perhaps finding any tension in your body and letting it go,
Just for now.
And if it helps,
Maybe tilting your chin towards your chest ever so slightly.
Moving inward.
And when you're ready,
Taking a deep inhale through the nose,
Belly rises,
Chest expands and on the exhale,
Sinking deeper into the surface beneath you.
And on the exhale,
Softening.
Finding any tension in your body once again and letting it go.
Maybe noticing what it's like to take a moment for yourself.
What it's like to pause.
And I invite you to find your breath once again.
Maybe noticing the inflow of the breath and the outflow of the breath.
Maybe noticing where the breath moves in the body.
And following the breath as it moves out of the body.
And if your mind wanders,
Simply bring it back to your breath.
And on every in-breath,
Perhaps letting your body fully fill with air.
And on the out-breath,
Allowing your body to soften even deeper.
Taking a few more expansive breaths on your own now.
Using your mind's eye,
I invite you to visualize your lover.
Seeing their face and body.
Hearing their voice.
Maybe the way they're breathing.
Maybe the way they smell.
Bringing to mind now your favorite memory with them.
Visualizing where you were and what you were doing together.
Noticing what emotions were present for you then.
And noticing what emotions are present for you now.
Perhaps sending gratitude to them and to yourself for this beautiful shared memory.
Receiving a deep inhale through the nose and on the exhale,
Allowing this memory to fade.
And now I welcome you to visualize yourself only.
Separated and no longer in a relationship with them.
Maybe envisioning yourself in your favorite place.
Noticing what it's like to simply indulge in being in your favorite place.
Maybe bringing to mind what you're doing there and how much you enjoy doing it on your own.
And maybe bringing to mind some things you want to do for yourself that you may have not gotten to yet.
Maybe naming these endeavors that you're thinking of pursuing.
Noticing how you feel when you think of these endeavors.
Maybe noticing where you feel this in your body.
And simply acknowledging those feelings and noticing the space that has now opened up for you.
Allowing this visualization to fade.
Coming back into your body in the present moment.
Maybe finding your breath and receiving a deep inhale through the nose and on the exhale.
And a deep exhale through the mouth.
Once more,
Inhaling through the nose and another exhale through the mouth.
Perhaps tuning into any sounds around you.
The temperature on your skin.
Maybe gently rocking your body from side to side.
And when you're ready,
If they are closed,
Allowing your eyes to open to a soft gaze.
Noticing any colors around you.
Any shadows or areas of light.
And recognizing any feelings that are present for you in this moment.
The decision to end a relationship with someone you have love for is never easy.
Letting go of all the future plans or visions you had with that person can bring up so many emotions.
The hard truth is there are risks in any decision we make.
If we stay,
We risk more disappointment,
Pain,
And confusion.
If we leave,
We risk losing a lover,
A friend,
And a source of connection.
But when we keep our reasons for ending the relationship at the front of our minds,
We can move closer into our truth by honoring our needs and boundaries.
Dear friend,
Be safe and take care of yourself.
And know that love is within you.
And love will always come again.
Peace.
