Welcome to your slice of mindfulness.
This is a mindful self-compassion meditation for teachers or anyone who selflessly gives to others.
And it's something you can do during the day or night whenever you need a little kindness and care for you.
Many people struggle with negative self-talk.
Sometimes we fall into an all-or-nothing mindset.
Berating ourselves for less than perfect choices.
We don't always talk to ourselves the way we talk to a friend.
As teachers,
You pour compassion into your students,
Your colleagues,
And your families day after day.
But that same compassion is rarely reserved for you.
You hold space for others' mistakes,
For growth,
For being human.
Yet when it comes to your own missteps,
Your inner voice can turn critical and even harsh.
This practice is an invitation to soften that voice to speak to yourself the way you speak to your students or a good friend with patience,
Encouragement,
And care.
Learning to cultivate self-compassion can actually have a positive effect on your health physically,
Mentally,
And emotionally.
Let's begin.
I invite you to find a position that is comfortable and sustainable for the next 10 minutes or so.
You might sit or lie down.
There's no wrong way to be here.
Allow your focus to gently rest on your breath.
Let your shoulders soften away from your ears.
Relax your jaw and cheeks.
Unclench the space between your brow.
Whirling like a glitter jar,
Just notice them.
Just as you help students separate their mistakes from who they are,
You too.
On a scale from 1 to 10,
Maybe it might be something stressful,
A conversation that didn't go well,
Or worry about.
And as you do this,
Notice what arises in your body as you sit with the situation.
Is there tightness,
Achiness,
Numbness?
Our bodies whisper the truth if we're willing to learn.
The first phrase is,
This is a moment of difficulty.
