Welcome to trusting the path.
So just while we're settling in and there'll be a settling in process and then there'll be a small Dharma talk and then the rest of the meditation.
So while you're settling in just make yourself comfortable,
Just wiggle your body a bit and just take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out slowly through your mouth and just allow yourself to be here in this moment.
Whatever you've been doing today,
Whatever you've been thinking about,
It can all just wait.
You can feel the support beneath you,
The chair,
The bed,
The ground,
Whatever it is holding your body,
Just let your shoulders drop,
Let your jaw soften and let the heart ease a little.
This is your time.
You don't need to fix anything,
Just be aware of your breath,
You don't even need to change your breath,
Your body knows how to breathe,
Your body knows how to relax and just allowing your body to be in this moment,
It knows exactly what to do.
So while you're continuing to settle in,
There are moments in our life when progress feels invisible.
You've been doing the right things,
Trying to stay steady,
Trying not to slip back into old habits,
Trying to let go of what no longer serves you and yet it feels like nothing's changing.
That's when trust becomes the real practice,
Not blind faith,
Not pretending but a deep trust in life's quiet unfolding.
Think of it as a seed buried in the dark,
It doesn't know when spring will come,
It just keeps growing in silence and very unseen.
Our healing is much like that,
We may not see the change yet but that doesn't mean it isn't happening.
Trust is not about believing everything is fine,
It's about knowing that even in the dark you are moving towards the light,
Breath by breath,
Step by step,
Day by day.
Trust doesn't mean you'll never fall apart,
It means you'll rise again,
Softer,
Wiser and more real each time.
So let's bring the awareness to the breath again,
Notice its gentle rhythm,
Breathing in calm,
Breathing out relaxed and with each breath in feel a quiet strength rising in you and with each breath out let go of that needing to know when it will all make sense.
So now imagine walking along a path,
It winds through forests and open fields,
Sometimes the light breaks through the trees,
Other times the fog rolls in and you can't see what's ahead,
You don't need to know the destination,
You only need to take the next step and with each breath silently repeat I trust the path even when I cannot see it,
I trust the path even when I cannot see it and if you notice any fear or doubt that's okay,
You don't need to push them away,
They're simply reminders that you care,
That you're alive,
That you're growing and now bring your awareness to your heart,
The quiet center that's carrying you through every storm,
Feel it warm,
Steady and open,
You've already made it through times and things that you once thought you couldn't,
You've already changed in ways that you once thought was impossible,
Trust that this too is part of the unfolding and just for a few moments rest in this quiet trust,
Let the mind soften,
Let the body be still and let the breath be enough and in a moment we're going to return to this moment and just imagine taking this moment with you during the day,
During the weeks ahead,
Whatever journey you're on,
Whatever you're trying to change,
Whatever you're trying to work through and with this awareness know that it's bumpy but you need to trust your heart,
Trust your instincts and trust the path and you don't need to see the whole journey,
You don't need to see exactly how to get to where you want to get to,
Just keep a little eye on where you would love to be and then come back to this moment and take the next step,
That path between here and where you want to be is trust,
Is wisdom,
Is calm and sometimes bumpy days but you've got this,
You've been through way worse,
So I'm going to come back from five,
Slowly return to the room five,
Four,
Just gently open your eyes,
Three,
Shake out your arms,
Wiggle your fingers and toes,
Two,
Just look around the room and one and just take a little deeper breath and just realize you're alive and just say I am still here,
I am still walking and that is enough and you can use that mantra,
Perhaps write it on a piece of card,
Keep it in your wallet or in your pocket,
Put it on your fridge,
I am still here,
I am still walking and that is enough,
Just with that is enough for you to trust the path and get to where you need to get to.
Thank you,
I'm Stephen Webb and I appreciate your support.