This guided meditation invites you into an inner resourcing practice.
But first I'd like to start with just a few words about resourcing and then we'll move into practice.
If we don't have sufficient resources to access feelings of connectedness or safety,
It's not always possible to tap into a sense of mindfulness.
This can be especially so for those who've experienced traumatic stress.
So it's important that we honor the history that we hold by becoming the director of the pacing of our practice.
Resourcing is a way to pace our practice so that if we start to feel uncomfortable,
Fearful,
Or anxious,
We have the option of accessing an internal resource to quiet the nervous system,
Calm the body,
And tap into a pathway of feeling safe enough to work with what's there,
Whether that's in a mindfulness practice or in life.
In order to stay within what's been called our window of tolerance and to bring attention to the present in a wise and loving way,
It sometimes means we need to gently move out of practice to resource ourselves before we can safely move back in.
This guided practice invites you to intentionally tap into your pathway to an inner resource,
Whether that's bringing to mind a favorite place or favorite being or practicing mindfulness of body or self-compassion through touch.
And it's a skill that can be cultivated.
Once cultivated,
This resource or resources can be available to you in the midst of practice if you feel triggered or dysregulated,
And it will help you reconnect,
Find greater balance,
And gently move back into presence.
So as we begin to move into our guided resourcing practice,
Finding a posture that feels comfortable for you,
Whether that's sitting or standing or lying down,
Resting in a way that allows your body to feel comfortable and at ease.
If you feel the need to shift your attention or your body at any point in the midst of practice,
Doing whatever supports you in the moment,
Just noticing what you need and with mindfulness making whatever shift feels right.
When you're ready,
Bringing your attention gently inward.
If it's comfortable for you,
Allowing your eyes to close or your gaze to soften.
Allowing the eyes to be soft.
Allowing the face,
Jaw,
Shoulders,
And hands to soften.
And if the breath is comfortable,
Taking a few slow,
Intentional,
And deep breaths in and out at your own pace.
With each breath,
Allowing yourself to let go just a little more.
And when you're ready,
Coming back to your breath's natural pace,
Just as it is as you breathe in and breathe out.
The invitation here is to begin with turning to a favorite place in your mind's eye,
A place that feels sacred to you.
This could be a place that you've been to or one that you envision with your imagination.
Perhaps bringing to mind a place that feels beautiful or comforting and safe.
Really bringing it to mind through all of your senses.
I'd like to invite you to shift from imagining a favorite place to bringing into your mind a being.
This being could be a person or pet or spiritual figure.
A being or beings that bring you a sense of ease,
Connection,
And strength.
Imagining that this being or these beings are right there with you and in their presence,
You're able to tap into a sense of connection,
Safety,
And ease.
Next I'd like to invite you to bring attention to the feeling of your feet as they make contact with the surface you're resting on.
Feel the touch points as your feet make connection with the furniture or the ground,
And then through the ground beneath you,
Your connection to the earth.
The invitation now is to experiment with offering yourself self-compassion and a sense of comfort and ease by placing a hand on your heart or belly,
Or placing your hands on your cheeks or behind your neck,
Or gently wrapping your arms around your shoulders.
Making physical connection with yourself through self-touch in whatever way feels right.
And notice if you can feel into a sense of safety and stability as though you're sending the kind,
Reassuring,
And loving message to yourself,
I've got you.
I've got you.
The final invitation here is to choose one or two of these entry points for resourcing,
Whether that's bringing to mind a favorite place,
A being or beings that bring you a sense of safety and stability,
Or feeling the connection your feet make to the ground and the earth,
Or self-compassion through self-touch.
And for the next 30 seconds or so,
Tapping into this resource and allowing it to fill your awareness.
And in the next few breaths,
Beginning to let go of this practice,
Knowing that at any point in any practice,
You have a resource available to you should you become uncomfortable,
Fearful,
Or anxious during practice.
So now doing whatever supports you to reorient to your environment,
Perhaps inviting some gentle movement back into your body,
Taking in the space around you through your senses,
And perhaps thanking yourself with a sense of gratitude for taking this time to practice for the benefit of your own well-being and for the benefit of others.
