Thank you for joining me in this short guided meditation to help with feeling more calm before a medical appointment or procedure.
Please begin by finding a comfortable position,
Close your eyes and take a nice few deep,
Calming breaths.
Inhale through your nose and exhale.
Good.
Breathe in.
And breathe out.
If you or someone you care about is awaiting a medical appointment,
It is completely understandable that you may be experiencing some stress or anxiety for a number of reasons.
Allow yourself to acknowledge that these feelings are perfectly normal and ok,
And actually very common.
You are not alone in feeling this way.
Just as common as these feelings are the medical appointments themselves.
Reflect on how each day,
All over the world,
Modern medicine helps millions of people to feel better and live fuller,
Healthier lives.
By expressing gratitude to the people who have dedicated their lives to helping others,
We may be able to let go of some of the fear that we may be holding onto and instead experience a sense of calm,
Trust and acceptance.
So take a moment now to think of all of the doctors,
Nurses,
The researchers,
The lab technicians,
Receptionists,
Cleaning staff,
Paramedics,
And any other healthcare workers that you can think of who,
With their expertise and cumulative years of experience,
Expertly,
Formally help people just like you every single day.
Send them your gratitude for helping to make people's lives better.
Allow this feeling of gratitude to wash over you now.
Gratitude for having access to healthcare when much of the world does not.
Gratitude for the support,
Connection and understanding that exists within the world.
And most importantly,
Feel gratitude for your own personal strength and in your ability to get through the things that you find difficult.
A simple practice that can help to take ourselves out of our busy minds and into our bodies to be more present and relaxed is to instead direct our attention onto something physical.
I find this especially helpful in times of overthinking or anxiety.
So try for a moment to focus only on your feet.
Let go of any thoughts,
Words,
Emotions or feelings and concentrate on the feeling of the material of the socks that you're wearing.
Contemplate the shoes that you're wearing today.
Or if you're not wearing any,
Simply dedicate all of your attention onto the soles of your feet.
The temperature of the air around them or the feeling of the surface underneath them.
Simply focus on all of these sensations.
Feel each individual toe.
If thoughts and feelings arise,
That's okay.
Simply observe them without any judgment or reaction.
Acknowledging that they are there,
But then returning your focus once again to your feet.
This grounding exercise is able to be done anywhere at any time that you may be feeling anxious.
So please feel free to return to it at any time that you may need it.
As you take another deep,
Calming breath,
Inhale strength and gratitude.
And as you exhale,
Fully release any of the fear that you may be holding onto and no longer need.
One more time as we inhale positivity,
Love,
Health and healing.
And exhale feeling grounded,
Feeling prepared,
Feeling calm.
When you're ready,
You may open your eyes.
Simply notice how you're feeling,
Accepting however that is.
Thank yourself for taking the time to do something positive for your mental health today.
I am sending you my love and support and am so grateful to you for joining me today.
I hope you have a beautiful rest of your day.
Thank you so much.
