IRest Practice 25: Welcoming Joy With Stress

Joy comes in different layers. For some, it’s a feeling of well-being. For others, it’s a feeling of contentment, enthusiasm, radiance, or connection. For some, it’s a feeling of simply being.

The search for lasting joy might be what prevents us from feeling the underlying joy of being. Searching keeps our minds fixed on external objects and experiences. Looking for something outside of ourselves takes us away from seeing that joy is already present within us.

Before going into this practice, take a few moments and reflect on several events that you would describe as stressful. This practice teaches you how to welcome joy, even when experiencing stress.

iRest Practice 25: Welcoming Joy with Stress from the iRest Program for Healing PTSD: A Proven Effective Approach to Using Yoga Nidra Meditation & Deep Relaxation Techniques to Overcome Trauma. Written by Richard C. Miller, PhD. Recorded by Erin Finck, TCTSY-F, RYT 500, Level 1 iRest Teacher

Transcript

Welcome the environment and sounds around you. The sensation of air where it touches your skin. The sensations of your body. Touching the surface that's supporting you. Your body breathing. The various sensations that are calling your attention and your body. Welcome your inner resource. Your sense of well-being. Ease. Security. And feeling grounded. Remember. You can always return to the comfort of your inner resource whenever you experience the need to feel grounded, Secure. And that is. Welcome the experience of joy in your body. Take your time. Allow the felt sense of joy to come alive within your body and mind. Take a few moments to reflect on several events that you would describe as stressful in your life. Feel free to focus on either present or past events. Be sure to make note of the sensations. Emotions. And thoughts. That are associated with the stressful events. Now recall one of these stressful events. Locate and experience the felt sense of stress that this event brings into your body. Whether it's a sensation. Emotion. Thought. Or memory. Feel where and how you experience this stress in your body and mind. Now go back and forth several times. First experiencing the felt sense of joy. Then experience this stressful feeling. Back and forth. At your own pace. When it feels right. Experience both joy and the stressful feeling at the same time. Joy and the stressful sensation. Emotion. Thought. Or memory. Allow joy to be present at the same time as the felt sense of stress. Feel how this registers in your body and mind. Take a few minutes now and continue doing this with each stressful event on your list. When you feel complete in your work with your list. And are ready to move on. Allow any feelings of stress that remain. To be just as they are. Let go of thinking. And fully welcome the experience of joy in your body. Joy independent of memory. Joy independent of stress. Allow joy to expand fully. Joy throughout your entire body. Joy expanding to fill the space within. Throughout. And all around your body. With each exhalation and inhalation. Feel joy growing. Joy everywhere. Feel joy everywhere. And the felt sense of just being. Feeling joy as a quality of being. That's always present. Be aware of sensations. Emotions. And thoughts that are present. Be aware of the feeling of joy and being. That are also present. Be aware of being. Joy. And the various movements that are present. Sensations, And joy. Emotions. Enjoy. Sounds. Enjoy! The feeling of space around you. Enjoy! Being. Enjoy. When it feels right. Allow your eyes to open and close several times while continuing to feel joy and being. When you feel ready. Allow yourself to come fully back to your wide awake state of body and mind. While continuing to feel joy. And the felt sense of being. Sense the world around you. And the felt sense of joy. Sense the world around you. And the felt sense of being. Before moving on. Take a few moments to reflect on this practice. Then as you move back into your everyday life. Feel how joy and being are always present. No matter what else you're experiencing.