Today's meditation is focusing on compassion and specifically self-compassion.
It can be so easy to be hard on ourselves,
To really give ourselves grief instead of recognizing that we are doing our best.
And it seems to be part of the human condition to fall into patterns of self-criticism.
And this meditation is an invitation to change that and to cultivate the practice of self-compassion,
Of turning toward yourself with love and care,
Kindness,
And a deep heartfelt understanding.
So let us begin.
Let your body get comfortable.
Arrange yourself so that this wonderful body of yours can find ease,
Can feel supported.
Then let your eyes rest,
Allowing the lids to be heavy.
And then follow your breath,
Follow your breath as it rises and falls,
Allowing your breath to be an anchor,
An anchor into the present moment.
And in this present moment,
What if you turn toward yourself,
Turn toward yourself sweet friend,
With a gentle,
Loving,
Compassionate gaze.
Maybe you can imagine that you are looking in the mirror and instead of scrutinizing parts of your face that maybe you wish were different or finding the apparent flaws that come with living and come with aging.
You turn toward yourself with compassion and see yourself as if for the first time.
Gently allowing your heart to soften.
As you see this image of yourself,
Then perhaps you might even sense an opening in your heart and allowing that feeling of love,
Of compassion to flow toward yourself from your deepest heart to yourself.
Realizing what it feels like to make this offering and to receive this offering.
Perhaps you can feel the beating of your own heart.
Like all the time you need,
Stay with yourself,
Stay with yourself,
Dear friend.
This is a pathway,
Pathway to self-compassion so that when and if a moment arises where the old habit of self-criticism rears its head,
You can pause and know that there is another option,
There is another choice.
Self-compassion.
Self-compassion.
So perhaps resting a hand on your heart and let us just be here together,
Marinating in the depths of self-compassion.
And the more you practice this,
The more it will live in you and be readily accessible.
Umb.
Taking a breath and coming back.
Back to your body,
Back to the space where you are sitting.
And as you're ready,
Allow your eyes to open gently,
Seeing through the eyes of self-compassion.
Let your body move gently and close up.
You
