So I invite you to find a comfortable posture,
Seated or lying down.
It might take a moment to allow the body to settle in.
Inviting some space between each vertebrae from the low back up into the neck.
Elongating the spine so that we are in a posture that is awake and alert but also relaxed and at ease.
Closing the eyes if that feels comfortable,
Otherwise just softening the gaze and looking a few feet in front of you.
We might take a few slow cleansing breaths here.
Breathing in through the nose,
Breathing out through the mouth,
A nice long exhale.
You might imagine that we can let go of any tension that we're holding in our bodies on our next exhale.
And now allowing the breath to come into a natural rhythm.
Bringing mindful attention to the forefront of our awareness.
Remembering that mindfulness is intentionally present.
Letting go of judgment to the extent that we are able.
Mindfulness also includes an open-heartedness,
A kindness.
Can we bring mindful attention to our breathing?
Feeling what it feels like to breathe just one breath at a time.
And we'll begin to utilize this practice of visualization.
And we'll start by imagining that we could zoom in to the brain.
Almost like a camera that's zooming from a broader perspective to a more focused perspective.
Imagine that through our mind's eye we could see the brain.
We might see what the brain actually looks like,
Or we might see some symbol of the brain.
Sometimes when we're living with challenges that stem from the brain,
When we begin to really give our attention to this part of the body that's suffering,
We might notice that there's a symbol or an image that arises that represents what the brain feels like.
So just taking a moment as we give the brain our attention,
Noticing what you see,
We'll begin to connect with the challenges that we're experiencing in the brain.
And as we're looking at the brain,
We might even see parts of the brain that are suffering in our mind's eye.
What does that look like?
Or we might just recall how difficult it is to live with a brain that isn't functioning in the way that we want it to be.
Really connecting with the extent of the impairment of the struggle,
The overwhelm that our brains might be experiencing every day.
And we might take a moment to validate this suffering.
The brain is so central to our experiences in the world,
And when it's suffering,
We inevitably suffer as well.
Can we hold the suffering with kindness?
Can we let go of any self-blame,
Judgment,
Or criticism?
It's not our fault that this happened.
Validating all of the ways that we might be suffering,
Because of a brain that is also suffering.
Just take your time here.
We don't have to force ourselves into extreme discomfort,
But it's important sometimes to really validate the extent of our suffering.
We might even offer an invitation,
This belongs.
Or we might even imagine that we're talking to our brain.
I see you.
I see that you're suffering.
I'm so sorry that you're suffering.
We might also take a few moments to look at the brain and see what parts are functioning well.
There are trillions of neural connections,
And some of those connections are still working well.
Can we take a moment to honor that?
Are we still able to see?
Can we hear?
Can we still smell?
Can we recall memories,
Or can we plan for the future?
Opening to any part or parts of the brain that are still functioning well,
Without discounting the suffering,
Can we hold both experiences,
The struggle,
Along with the gratitude for what is still working well?
We might just notice what arises when we make space for both,
Both realities.
And taking a moment to offer our gratitude,
Knowing that the brain is doing the absolute best that it can with what it has.
We might imagine a gentle bow.
Thank you.
Thank you for trying so hard every day.
I know this is hard.
Beginning now to zoom in even a little more into key structures of the brain.
We're going to start with the amygdala.
These small structures that sit in the temporal lobes,
Which are slightly off to the side of the brain.
We have two temporal lobes on the sides.
The amygdala can become overly taxed when we're sick.
The amygdala has the responsibility of keeping us safe.
So it's constantly scanning our environment for threat.
And it helps us to mount a stress response when we need it.
It's an incredibly important structure in the brain,
And it can oftentimes be on overuse.
It can be overdrive,
Trying to keep us safe.
We might begin to invite in this healing energy in any form that feels right for you.
It could be a color.
It could just be a feeling.
It could be a word.
Imagining that we can bring in the healing that the amygdala needs.
And all of the neurons that are housed here can start to settle a little bit.
Letting the brain know that we're safe at this moment.
Healing is possible.
A new experience of safety is possible.
We might imagine that this structure that has been so on edge can begin to soften.
Maybe even gets a little smaller.
All the neurons are calm and balanced.
Sending a signal to the rest of the brain and the body.
We are safe here.
We don't need to mount a stress response right now.
It's okay to be calm.
This signal of safety and calm begins to move into the hippocampus,
Which is very close to the amygdala in the brain.
Almost as if the amygdala is just whispering to the hippocampus,
We're safe.
We're safe.
The hippocampus allows us to learn new things and lay down memories.
So in this way,
We begin to learn a new experience.
We're learning this experience of calm,
Of safety.
Of neuronal balance.
If it's helpful,
We might imagine this healing energy surrounding the hippocampus,
The amygdala.
Maybe it even has a warm temperature to it,
Has a softness.
Maybe there's a color that feels nurturing and supportive.
Taking a moment to really allow this experience of safety and calm and balance to sink in.
Almost as if we're imprinting this new experience into the neurons of the amygdala,
The hippocampus.
We're forming new neural connections through this incredible process of neuroplasticity.
We might imagine that this healing energy begins to spread out to every neuron in the brain.
Moving through the trillions of connections and moving to all of the regions of the brain.
The frontal lobe,
The occipital lobe in the back of the brain,
The temporal lobes on the sides of the brain,
The parietal lobes.
All of these neural connections are receiving the signal of safety,
Of calm,
Of healing energy.
This healing light or this healing energy can find and discover any connections that might be out of balance or that might be contributing to this dysfunction in the brain.
And it's able to create the right amount of neurotransmitters to the levels of serotonin,
Dopamine,
GABA,
Glutamate.
All of these chemical messengers in the brain are receiving a signal of safety and they're able to be produced in the perfect balance.
And in this way,
The brain begins to function optimally,
Harmoniously.
There's a smoothing out of the energy.
There's a calming down if it's overactive or there's a slight lift in the energy if it's underactive.
And all of this healing energy begins to form new neural connections wherever we need it.
Sprouting these new neural connections.
These neurons are smooth.
The impulses travel effortlessly in the directions that lead to optimal cognitive functioning.
We're able to take in the world and it feels balanced.
It feels pleasant.
We're able to take in light and visual stimuli in a way that feels calm,
Feels enjoyable.
We hear sounds and it feels pleasant.
We're able to smell and taste.
We're able to talk and all of our words come out effortlessly,
Seamlessly.
We're able to listen and comprehend information without any struggle.
We can imagine that this healing energy moves into the glial cells.
These glial cells are special immune cells in the brain,
Sometimes referred to as the glue of the brain.
And when the brain has been insulted by toxins or infections,
These glial cells are on overdrive,
Producing a large amount of inflammation in the brain.
So we might imagine that this healing energy can come into every single glial cell,
Offering the same message of safety,
Of calm.
And as this healing energy takes care of any of the toxins or the infections circulating in the brain,
The glial cells don't have to work so hard.
We might imagine almost like a beehive that's buzzing really,
Really loudly.
As this healing light comes in,
This buzzing becomes quieter and quieter.
All of these cells are receiving the signal that the threat is gone.
The infections,
The toxins,
They've been taken care of.
The threat is taken care of,
And now things can come back into balance and harmony.
There's a rebalancing effect throughout the entire brain.
Beautiful,
Soothing,
Healing energy.
Inviting this healing light energy to envelop the whole brain,
Almost as if it's just holding the brain in a warm embrace.
We don't have to do anything.
Everything has been taken care of.
By this healing energy,
Seeing if we can open with some trust that the healing energy knows how to support and rebalance the brain in all the ways that it needs.
Knowing that any neural connections that were leading to the suffering in the brain have been cleared.
And in its place,
We have these new neural connections sprouting.
And the more we do this practice,
The more these neural connections will become our default state.
Neuroplasticity requires some intentional repetition So the more we engage in these healing visualizations,
The more the brain receives this message,
And it reinforces the new neural circuitry.
These beautiful new neural connections that allow the brain to function optimally,
Allows us to feel safe in the world,
Allows for all of the inflammation,
All of the over-activation,
To be calm.
We might bring in the work of Dan Siegel here,
A renowned neuroscientist who explains a healthy brain is an integrated brain.
And he uses the acronym FACES.
The F stands for flexibility.
The A stands for adaptability.
The C stands for coherence.
The E is energized.
The S is stable.
We might take a moment to invite this integration into our brain,
Where there's flexibility.
We're able to adapt to changing circumstances without overwhelm,
Without new symptoms.
We feel this coherence in the brain.
It feels pleasantly energized.
And we have this stability as well.
I really imagine and feel into this possibility where the brain is completely healed.
We're able to live in the world and feel connected,
Engaged,
Safe,
With the perfect level of activation.
Flexible,
Adaptable,
Coherent,
Energized,
Stable.
We might close with a few affirmations.
I believe that healing is possible.
Neuroplasticity holds immense power and it will allow me to heal.
I believe healing is possible.
Neuroplasticity holds immense power and I believe I can heal.
I believe I can heal.
So we can continue with this healing guided imagery,
Nurturing the brain in all of the ways that it needs.
And eventually,
One day we'll be living with a healthy brain.
And this in turn will allow us to live with health,
Happiness,
And harmony in body,
Mind,
And spirit.
May this practice support you in all the ways you need on your healing path.
May it restore health,
Many blessings.
Thank you.
