Discarding worries and regrets This short,
Gentle meditation will guide you through a simple visualisation exercise to help you discard the worries that we can carry around like a heavy load.
It can be done at any time when you have a few minutes to spare.
First,
Sit or lay down and relax your body.
Take some deep breaths,
But do not strain yourself to make them deep.
Just breathe naturally and close your eyes.
Lay one hand on your stomach and as you breathe feel it rise and fall.
Take a few moments to be aware of the feelings and sensations in your body.
Send a gentle invitation to each area of tension to gently relax.
Then just be aware of your breathing.
Now imagine that you are standing outside a beautiful house that is yours.
It is perfect for you in every way and you always feel safe and happy here.
The day is mild and the wind skims colourful autumn past your feet.
You want to go into your house,
Sit down in the warmth and peace and relax,
But you are holding two very heavy suitcases.
One of those suitcases is full of worries about the future and the other is filled with past pain and regrets.
They weigh you down,
You can feel them pulling you toward the ground.
Take a moment standing there in the street holding these two heavy suitcases and reflect about each one.
Firstly,
Think about the suitcase full of worries about the future.
Think of how the future will come of its own accord and most of what we worry about will never happen or certainly will not be as bad as we fear.
Now think of the other suitcase and the past.
The past cannot be changed but we can learn from it,
Become a better and wiser person and move on.
You feel the weight of the cases and do not want to struggle to take them into the house.
You feel they would spoil the peace and quiet of your home.
It is a safe,
Quiet,
Calm space for you.
You make a conscious decision not to bring these suitcases into your safe space.
You let go of the suitcase of worries about the future.
You simply drop it.
It thuds as it hits the ground.
It was very heavy and now you feel the strain of holding it is released in your arm and shoulder and back.
The other suitcase that holds regrets and worries of the past now causes you to brace the other arm.
You are tired of it and make another decision to drop that one.
It makes another thud as it hits the ground.
Now you simply walk away from them,
The heavy load discarded.
As you walk into your house you are aware of its embracing comfort as if it were waiting for you to come home.
You are even more glad you did not bring those worries and regrets inside to disturb its tranquility.
You make yourself a hot drink and take it to your favorite chair,
Sitting down and letting yourself relax.
Become aware of your breath.
Rest in the relief that discarding those suitcases has given you.
Simply allow yourself these moments of quiet.
You notice that dusk is falling and the wind has risen.
You go to the window and as you look out you can see those heavy suitcases that you dropped.
Then the wind strengthens and knocks them over.
Perhaps they were not properly closed because their contents begin to spill out carried by the wind.
The dark shapes of fears and regrets,
Both of past and future,
Are tossed like the falling leaves.
You watch them fray and dissolve as ephemeral as dreams,
Lost into the windy evening.
Drawing the drapes you switch on your warm lamps and return to your chair.
This is the now,
A place between past and future and yet eternal.
Here you are safe and you can always return to rest and begin anew.
