There are times when life feels difficult,
Uncertain or painful.
And we don't know quite what to do with what we're feeling.
Prayer doesn't have to be religious.
It can simply be a moment of turning towards compassion,
Strength,
And hope when we need them most.
So for the next few minutes,
There is nothing you need to do.
Just listen.
Breathe and allow these words to gently move through you.
Take a slow,
Comfortable breath in.
And let it go.
Whatever you're carrying right now,
You don't have to put it down.
You don't have to solve it.
You don't have to understand it.
Just allow yourself to be here exactly as you are.
And now I will read out some phrases to you that I just ask you to let flow through your mind and through your body.
And then I will leave you with some phrases you might want to repeat to yourself.
But for now,
Just breathe slowly.
Relax and listen.
May I be gentle with myself during this difficult time.
May I remember that I am doing the best I can with what I know,
What I feel,
And what I am able to carry today.
May I have compassion for myself and for others who may also be struggling.
May I have the courage to feel what I need to feel without becoming lost in it.
May I find strength for what is difficult.
May I accept what I cannot change while remaining open to what might still change.
May I release the need to know how everything will unfold.
May I trust that I don't have to have all the answers right now.
May I remember that difficult moments are not forever.
May I remember that I am more than this moment.
More than this pain.
More than this uncertainty.
And if I feel alone.
May I remember that I am part of something larger than myself.
Something that connects us all through our hopes,
Our fears,
Our love and our struggles.
May I mate myself with kindness.
May I meet others with compassion.
And may I find a little more peace with whatever is here today.
Take another slow breath.
And allow yourself to simply be here for a moment.
You can return to this prayer whenever you need it.
You can listen once or several times throughout the day.
And when you can't listen.
You can carry these words with you.
You might remember just these two phrases,
Which we can practice together now.
May I have compassion for myself.
And others during this difficult time.
And may I find the strength to meet.
What I cannot change.
With an open heart.
So one more time.
May I have compassion for myself and others during this difficult time.
And May I find the strength to meet what I cannot change with an open heart.
You don't need to believe the words perfectly.
You don't even need to feel them yet.
Just repeat them gently and let them be an intention.
You can come back to this track any time you need,
As many times as you need.
Whenever you need these words,
They are here.
