Nobody knows the trouble I've seen.
Hello again,
And thank you for tuning in for another guided meditation.
Have you ever found yourself struggling to communicate a situation or circumstance in a way that left you feeling like you were fully understood?
Have you ever thought that if you had the ability to explain yourself or your situation better,
Then maybe you would get the validation or empathy that would help you heal?
Sometimes,
No matter how well we communicate our situation or our life,
We can be left feeling like nobody really cares or understands completely.
Let me first say that we need others in our lives to help us.
We are social beings,
And our connections are integral to our survival.
We also need therapists,
Counsellors,
And other professional individuals who are trained to listen and pick up on cues to guide us into wellness.
At the same time,
There are ways in which we can help ourselves that many of us don't get taught or that our societies don't teach us as being skillful.
In meditation,
That simple act of becoming aware of our minds wandering and then returning to our breath or anchor with loving kindness is an act of self-care that when repeated day after day,
Sit after sit,
Builds the muscles of self-compassion.
As these muscles build over time,
Many of us begin to realize that the best person to hear our pain is ourselves.
After all,
Who knows us better?
Who else knows all the myriad experiences of our lives and all the,
Pardon the expression,
Shit that we've been through?
Again,
This doesn't mean we don't need the connection of others,
And there is so much value in being able to express or expulse our feelings and emotions to another human being.
But,
When we can see our pain better than anyone else and repeatedly give ourselves the love,
Compassion,
And sometimes forgiveness that we need,
Then when we do connect with others,
We're less needy.
Our healing is no longer conditional on something that we need to get from others.
So,
This isn't bad news.
In fact,
It's empowering.
That self-serving resource is never far away either,
So when we find ourselves in need in the dark of the night when we're all alone,
We can tap into it.
Let's meditate together.
Start by closing your eyes if that feels right for you,
Or leave them open if you prefer.
On the in-breath,
Feel the body rise a little and an expansion as we inflate.
On the out-breath,
We settle and bring a sense of relaxation and calm.
It's good to keep in mind that the practice of meditation again and again is what matters.
It is slow and steady,
And we can take comfort in that.
There is no rush.
In fact,
The less we can do and the more we can be this Buddha-like being,
The more meditation is.
It can be helpful to remember that even the Buddha's mind wandered.
It isn't about how well we can stay focused,
Although focus does improve over time.
It is more about the awareness,
That moment of clarity when we recognize that the mind has drifted,
And then the care in which we return to our home.
This is self-care.
When we zoom out and see the effect of this growing stronger over days,
Months,
And years,
We see the heroic act of self-compassion that we're developing.
You must know,
Dear one,
That your pain and your struggles are heard.
Most of us have been curled up,
Fetal encrusted,
Deeply ashamed of ourselves at one time or another.
Know that no matter how difficult things ever feel,
That you're not alone.
As you cry out to the universe,
Your tears and your pain are felt.
We all have tear ducts,
And they are there for a reason.
Male,
Female,
Young or old,
No exception.
There is no shame in letting the body cry.
We all cry when it needs to cry.
This,
Too,
Is an incredibly heroic act of self-compassion.
Nobody knows the trouble you've seen.
This was the most emotional meditation I've ever written,
But I think that's a good thing.
Sending so much love to you,
Dear friend,
Dear fellow navigator of the universe.
Be well.
See you next time.
