Hello and welcome to this meditation practice around self-care.
It's a popular topic these days,
But what does it actually mean to practice self-care?
Is it all spa days and long nights of sleep?
Or does it go deeper?
If you haven't already,
Go ahead and find a comfortable position.
You can be seated or laying down.
If you choose to sit on the floor,
Consider sitting up on something,
Just to give your spine,
Your hips a bit more space.
Then let yourself get comfortable.
Let your eyes grow heavy.
Either find a vague spot on the floor in front of you,
Or if it's comfortable,
Let your eyes close all the way down.
Let the weight of your body sink into whatever it is that supports you.
And let your attention settle on your breath.
Just your own normal natural.
Your own flow of inhale to exhale.
Exhale to inhale.
I've had wildfires on my mind recently.
Wildfires have become a regular summer event.
And here in Colorado,
They've been an expected part of the season for as long as I can remember.
And to be sure,
Wildfires are uncomfortable.
They leave us on edge.
For those of us who have been impacted by fires,
We know the lasting scars they can leave.
They leave scars on the landscape.
And they leave their scars on us.
But here's a potentially unpopular idea.
Wildfires are also one of nature's ways of practicing self-care.
Fire clears out the old to make room for the new.
It's a leaning in toward balance.
And it isn't always fun.
It isn't always what we want.
But it may very well be exactly what we need.
Self-care isn't an indulgence.
It's a discipline.
A choice.
Self-care is a path toward balance.
Self-care is choosing the things that are good for us,
Rather than what just feels good in the moment.
It's a constant,
Consistent choice every single day to show up for ourselves so we don't have to indulge to restore balance when life gets rocky.
At its core,
Self-care is an unveiling.
An unveiling of the depths of who we are.
An unveiling of our strength.
Our own power.
It's a filtering through of what society sells us.
What society tells us we want.
To look past,
Into our own hearts.
To reveal what we need to come into our own fullness.
Our own wholeness.
To find health and balance in mind,
Body,
Soul.
What does it mean to want?
Wanting isn't inherently bad.
It's good to be drawn toward things that bring us joy.
That make us smile.
That bring a sense of fulfillment in one way or another.
It's good to want.
But as with everything,
There must be balance.
Life's greatest opportunities often come disguised as things we need at a deep level but seem to have no want for on the surface.
Notice the position you're in here and now.
Whether sitting or laying down,
Bring your attention to your toes.
Notice all ten toes.
Then let your attention begin to scan up your body,
Noticing all the sensations as you scan through the soles of your feet,
Through your arches,
Your heels,
Up into your ankles,
Your shins,
Your calves,
Into your knees,
Your thighs,
Your hips.
And let your attention find your fingers.
Notice all ten fingers.
Follow your attention as it scans up through your palms,
Into your wrists,
Your forearms,
Elbows,
Upper arms,
Into your shoulders.
And let your attention find your tailbone.
Follow your attention as it scans up the length of your spine,
Passing through your belly,
Your ribs,
Your chest,
Your collarbone,
Into your neck,
And up into your head.
And as your attention scans your body,
Notice what your body needs.
What do you need physically?
Try not to overthink it.
The first thing that pops into your head is likely a good place to start.
Perhaps more rest,
Movement,
More water.
What do you need physically?
If you notice anything you need here in this moment,
Give yourself space to respond,
To adapt to what you need.
Now let your attention rest on your thoughts,
Without trying to silence or stop your thoughts.
Let yourself notice each thought as it comes in.
Notice the wandering.
What are you thinking?
And look a little past your thoughts,
To the depths of your mind.
What do you notice about where you are mentally right now?
Is your mind tired?
Exhausted?
Does it feel overstimulated?
Overwhelmed?
Does it feel heavy to hold a thought?
Where are you mentally?
As you consider where you are mentally,
What does your mind need to lean in toward a greater sense of balance?
Maybe you want to check out of things happening in your life.
But rather than letting yourself check out,
How can you welcome in more balance?
Maybe you need stimulation,
A good book,
Or conversation with a friend.
Maybe you need quiet,
Stillness,
A space to think or simply be with yourself.
What do you need mentally?
Draw your attention to your breath now.
Without effort or force,
As much as possible without changing your breath,
Can you simply notice what it does all on its own?
Can you stay with your breath all the way from the beginning of an inhale to the end of the exhale?
What do you notice on your breath?
Does your breath feel fast and shallow?
Or maybe slow and steady?
As you notice your breath,
What do you notice your breath needing?
Do you feel the need for fresh air?
Maybe the need to take a deep breath and the need to sigh it out.
What do you notice your breath needing here and now?
It's said that noticing our breath is the fastest way to recognizing our hearts,
Our souls.
So as you notice your breath,
As you notice what it needs,
Can you look closer to see your heart,
The core of your being?
What does your heart need?
What do you need at the core of your being?
We may want to deny or dwell on certain situations and circumstances in life.
But what do you need to bring balance?
For many of us,
It may be love,
Understanding,
Closure.
Maybe you feel the need to take a step toward your dreams,
Your goals,
To take a step for you.
Not because the world told you to,
But because you feel the need in the core of your being.
You can stay here as long as you like,
Resting and meditating on what you need in body,
Mind,
Soul.
As you feel ready to move on into the rest of your day,
Again let your attention find your breath.
Notice as it begins to deepen.
Follow a deep,
Full breath in and sigh it out.
And bring your palms to meet at the space in front of your heart.
And let's share in the sound of one om.
It's considered the sound of the universe.
It is beginning,
Middle,
End.
It is the sound of wholeness,
The sound of perfect balance.
So follow your breath out,
Make space.
Inhale whole and full.
Om.
May you recognize your own needs to practice your own self-care and lean in toward an ever greater sense of balance.
Thank you so much for sharing in this meditation.
