Welcome to today's short practice on the power of true connection.
So let's begin today by finding a posture that feels steady,
Balanced and alive.
You can sit with your spine tall but not rigid or lie down if your body asks for rest.
You can close your eyes if that feels okay or soften your gaze and take a slow breath in through your nose and sigh it out gently through your mouth.
Doing that again inhaling deeply,
Exhaling completely and let your breath then find its own easy rhythm.
Invite your body to settle,
Your shoulders to soften,
Your face to relax.
Notice if any part of you feels pressure to do this right.
That part of you might live in your chest or your stomach or your jaw.
Take a moment to acknowledge it,
The perfectionist,
The achiever,
The part that wants approval.
Now gently whisper inwardly,
I don't need to be perfect,
I choose connection.
And repeat this softly with each exhale,
I don't need to be perfect,
I choose connection.
Feel how your body shifts when you release the pressure to perform.
Notice what opens when you no longer need to get it right.
Imagine now someone sitting across from you,
Someone who sees you fully just as you are.
Picture their eyes,
Their gentle attention,
Their openness.
Notice how your body feels when you're seen in this way,
Without judgment,
Without demands,
Without needing to be different.
Breathe into this sense of connection.
As you inhale,
I allow myself to be seen.
As you exhale,
I soften into connection.
I allow myself to be seen.
I soften into connection.
Let your heart open,
Even if just a little more,
With each breath.
Now turn this connection inward and place one hand on your heart and one hand on your belly.
Whisper inwardly,
I welcome myself as I am.
I welcome others as they are.
I welcome myself as I am.
I welcome others as they are.
This is impartial presence.
The courage to be with yourself and with others without needing to fix or manage or change.
Feel the relief of simply being here,
Open to yourself and to connection.
Bring awareness to your breath once more.
Feel it moving in and out,
Like waves arriving at the shore.
With each inhale,
Whisper,
I open.
With each exhale,
Whisper,
I connect.
I open.
I connect.
Notice how these words feel in your body.
I open.
I connect.
Let them anchor into your chest,
Your belly,
Your whole being.
Imagine carrying this openness into your next conversation,
Into your next encounter with another human being.
As we come toward a close,
Bring to mind one person,
Past or present,
Who has truly connected with you.
Someone who saw you as you are.
Allow gratitude to arise for that connection and feel it in your heart.
You may whisper inwardly,
Connection matters more than perfection.
Connection matters more than perfection.
Take three deep breaths now to close.
Inhaling fully.
Exhaling fully.
Inhaling.
Exhaling.
Inhaling.
And exhaling.
And when you're ready,
Gently begin to return movement to your fingers and toes.
Slowly open your eyes.
Carrying with you this reminder into your day,
True connection is always stronger than perfection.
