Mediation On Resilience And Support

This is a guided mediation on the importance of resilience but also knowing that it is okay to rest on support. Inviting in loving kindness and the support of those who are present in our lives. This is a practice of love, acceptance, and kindness.

Transcript

Hey friend, I am so glad you are here. My name is Shania Gordon. I guide mindfulness and restorative practices that make rest and stillness feel accessible no matter what your day or time in your life may feel like. Before we settle in, I just want to remind you that the space is yours. There's nothing you need to get right or nothing you need to push through. You are welcome to sit, Lie down, Or move in whatever way helps your body feel supported and safe. If anything I offer doesn't feel good, You can adjust it, Skip it, Or simply come back to your breath. You are in full control of your experience here. My guidance is just an invitation. Your body and your spirit get the final say. So if you are ready, We can begin by taking some deep breaths, Grounding ourselves in this moment. I invite you to find a space where you can relax and have quiet for this practice today. I encourage you to set yourself away from the noisiest and busiest parts of your home if that's where you are. Hopefully to not be disturbed. I invite you to allow the body to relax now. And when you're ready, You can either close your eyes or soften your gaze. I welcome you to begin by taking a few calming, Soothing breaths to help you relax. Breathing in deeply through the nose, Releasing the breath out slowly through your mouth. Inhaling through the nose and exhale from the mouth. Continuing to take the deep breaths, Creating a circular breathing pattern. As you continue to breathe deeply, Let everything that makes you feel stress fall away. Let it all disappear if only for the moment. Release the body and the mind from any concerning thoughts or worries. And now I invite you to repeat the following phrases as you continue to breathe. Breathing in, My mind is open. Breathing out, My heart is resilient. Breathing in, My mind is open. Breathing out, My heart is resilient. If you wish to focus on shorter phrases, You can go with open when you breathe in and resilient when you breathe out. Breathing in, My mind is open. Breathing out, My heart is resilient. Breathing in, My mind is open. And now I invite you to gently focusing your attention away from the breath for just a few moments as we consider this practice's topic of resilience. We live in a busy world. We are taught that one of the most important things we can be is resilient. When we lack determination and clarity, We may feel as though we are failing. We can be confident. We can calm hard on ourselves, Forgetting that resilience does not define our worth. It's important that we try to offer ourselves some compassion. Being resilient is important, But so is acknowledging that distractions are a normal part of life. Feeling guilty for not being productive enough often only serves to decrease our focus. So maybe first offer yourself some loving-kindness. You may find that it is a challenge to stay focused and productive day to day. Perhaps it's impacting your work or your quality of life. But be gentle with yourself. Know that it's okay to slow down sometimes. A pause is necessary when we experience feelings of overwhelm. So maybe you can send some loving-kindness to yourself. Repeating the following phrases. May I handle difficult situations with ease. May I be mindful of my body, Mind, And spirit. May I be peaceful. As you continue to rest in this present-time awareness, Maybe you can bring to mind a time when you stayed calm during a challenging situation. Think about the skills and the strength it took for you to maintain this calm. Maybe notice how you trusted your intuition and how to respond to this stressful situation. Maybe you can take a moment to appreciate yourself and your ability to handle difficult challenges in your life. I now invite you to bring to mind connections in your life that help you to be resilient. This may be a family member, A friend, Maybe a colleague, Or anyone else that helps you feel connected and supported. Think about a time those connections allowed you to do something difficult. Maybe you can allow yourself to feel gratitude for these connections. Now, As you continue to look inward, I invite you to bring to mind a time when you felt accomplished. Think of a project you have finished or a task or skill you completed successfully. Remember that sense of accomplishment or mastery. Remember the feeling and allow it to be present with you in this moment. Maybe you can allow yourself to feel confident, Accomplished, And optimistic. You are whole and valuable in the moments of resilience and your moments of rest. Maybe allow yourself to have some grace towards yourself in the moments where resilience may not be accessible. You are still whole and valuable. As this practice draws to an end, I welcome you back into your surroundings. Take notice of how you feel. Maybe you wiggle your toes and your fingers. Moving your head side to side. Stretching the body gently. And when you are ready, You're welcome to gently open your eyes. Thank you so much for being here. It has been an honor. And I hope you got something out of this today. Until next time, Friends.