Welcome,
This meditation is for those of you who carry a lot,
For those who hold space for others,
Manage the details,
Stay strong when others fall apart.
This is for the ones who rarely give themselves permission to rest.
Today we're going to practice something radical,
Laying it all down,
Not forever,
Just for now.
So find a comfortable position,
Seated,
Lying down,
Or supported in any way that feels restful for your body.
Let your hands rest in your lap or by your sides,
And gently close your eyes or soften your gaze.
Take a deep breath in,
And a slow breath out.
Letting yourself begin to arrive.
A deep breath in,
And a slow breath out.
Bring your attention now to the body.
Notice where your body makes contact with the surface beneath you.
Feel the support underneath you,
Steady,
Constant.
Let yourself be held by gravity.
Notice your shoulders,
And without needing to change them,
Simply become aware of any tension or tightness there.
And if you feel ready,
Allow your shoulders to drop slightly.
Let go of the invisible backpack you carry,
The one filled with all the things you're responsible for.
You don't have to fix anything right now.
You don't have to hold it all together.
If you're here,
It's because you care deeply.
You care about people.
You care about outcomes and doing things well.
That care is beautiful,
And it asks a lot of you.
You've likely grown strong through necessity.
Maybe no one was there to carry things for you.
Maybe you've always been the one others rely on.
So if resting feels unfamiliar,
Scary,
Or even selfish,
You're not alone.
Let those thoughts rise and fall like waves.
This moment is yours.
You have nothing to prove here,
No one to please,
Just a simple invitation to be.
Imagine now that you're holding a bundle of cords,
Each one representing a responsibility you've taken on.
Some are thick with weight,
Others are thin but tangled.
Take a moment to feel the cords in your hands.
Now,
One by one,
Visualize setting each cord down beside you.
You're not abandoning these roles,
You're resting from them.
Place the cords down gently.
As you place them down,
Imagine a little more ease entering your chest,
A little more space in your breath,
A little more lightness in your being.
Let your breath return to a natural rhythm now.
No control,
No effort,
Just breath as it is.
Let yourself be empty for a moment,
Not numb,
Not detached,
Just still.
You don't need to be useful right now,
You are allowed to just exist,
To be human.
If thoughts come,
I should be doing something,
I'm wasting time,
Notice them,
Thank them,
And return to this stillness.
You are doing something important right now,
You're tending to yourself.
Let these words land wherever they're needed.
I am allowed to rest.
Rest is not a weakness,
It is a necessity.
I do not have to earn my worth through effort.
It is safe to pause,
It is safe to soften.
Feel those words not just in your mind,
But in your body.
Let them settle in your heart,
Your belly,
Your bones.
I am allowed to rest.
Rest is not a weakness,
It is a necessity.
I do not have to earn my worth through effort.
It is safe to pause,
It is safe to soften.
Now slowly bring awareness back to your breath,
Noticing the gentle inhale and the soft exhale.
Bring awareness back to your body.
Feel the support beneath you.
Maybe begin to gently wiggle your fingers or toes.
And before you open your eyes,
Ask yourself,
What can I carry a little more gently today?
When you feel ready,
Take one more deep breath in and let it go.
And gently return to your day,
Not with urgency,
But with the quiet courage to rest and begin again.
