Hello and welcome.
My name is Nathania and I'm really glad you're here.
One of the first books I had to read during my master's in psychology was Respect Focus Therapy by Suzanne Slay Westbrook and I basically highlighted the entire thing.
The message and the underlying theme that jumped off the pages was simple yet profound.
Change is possible.
This idea that with the right support,
Understanding and respect that we can create real meaningful change in our lives,
It filled me with hope.
It wasn't just a theory,
It was a lifeline.
As I soaked in these lessons,
I felt a surge of empowerment,
Not just for myself but for everyone I wanted to help with the skills that I was learning.
This message became my anchor in a world that often feels chaotic and heavy.
It reminded me that we all have the capacity for growth and healing.
With compassion and connection,
We can navigate our journeys together.
And change isn't just a possibility,
It's a beautiful messy promise waiting for us to embrace.
So I wonder if you'll join me today to take a couple of moments just to pause,
To ground in our bodies,
To consider this message of hope.
That no matter where we are in our lives,
No matter what our human experience has been,
Change is possible.
When we give ourselves the space,
The respect,
The compassion and the love,
We begin this journey.
This journey that moves us forward towards what we know possible for ourselves.
I invite you to join me now in a seated position that feels good for your body.
As you feel your sits bones settle into the cushion or the chair beneath you,
I welcome you to unravel your legs,
Allow them to simply rest,
Hip-width distance apart in place where they are on your seat.
To take your hands and allow them to rest gently on your thighs.
Spread the fingers so wide that you feel the webbing between each one and then with your next exhale just slowly allow the fingers to drift back down,
Resting gently where they are in place.
Find your sits bones once more rooted into the chair beneath you and grow tall up through the spine.
Allow the crown of the head to reach upwards towards the sky and then go ahead soften the shoulders back down.
Finding yourself in a seated position that feels good in your body.
That's really important and that you take these first few moments to settle and adjust.
Tune into what you need and take it.
Not sitting in a posture as I've directed but instead trying it on,
Seeing if it fits and then adjusting it as you need.
Unbuckle your belly,
Soften in the space that holds so much tension and just allow yourself to breathe here naturally as it feels good.
We'll start the process of sinking our breath.
If it doesn't serve you,
You're welcome to take what you need to breathe slower or faster.
You're under no obligation to follow my lead.
Together we breathe in and together we breathe out.
In through the nose and gently part the lips out through the mouth.
In again,
Softly out.
Stay with your breath,
Noticing when it might need something different and adjusting.
Slowly in,
Even slower,
Longer out.
Using your inhales to scan for tension.
Using your exhales to slowly release it bit by bit,
Breath by breath.
You arrive,
You soften and you feel the ease you know possible in your body.
I've always firmly believed that change begins with awareness.
So will you linger there for a moment,
Only if it feels good,
Coming back to the safety of your breath however often you need.
But where in your life do you desire change?
Where do you know it's possible for you?
Could you see yourself in the midst of change?
What does it look like?
Most importantly,
What does it feel like?
This change you desire for yourself,
What does it feel like?
Embody the presence of ease,
Of joy,
Of happiness.
As you shift into a space you know yourself capable of,
The awareness building within you,
Feeling the sensations,
Knowing it's possible,
Trusting you're capable.
And most importantly,
Believing yourself worthy of this change.
Feel your breath in your body,
Gentle,
Slow,
Long and loving.
Feel your awareness growing of what you know possible.
Feel the belief in your ability to create change in your life,
Knowing that you are worthy of it.
When you're ready,
Join me as we breathe in.
And together we breathe out.
Together we breathe in.
And together we breathe out.
It's from here that I acknowledge you,
The efforts you made today to pause,
To choose to trust that change is possible,
And to believe in your ability to create it.
To practice and strengthen your ability to create meaningful change in your life.
It is from here that I express my deep gratitude for you.
And I thank you for practicing with me today.
