Fear and anxiety can be really overwhelming in our lives and take away our sense of joy and freedom.
So it's essential that we find ways to help transform how we live with these feelings,
So that you can find harmony and balance.
Something that I feel is really worthwhile starting to explore,
To see how you are with it,
Is how safe and secure you feel in your body.
When we're anxious there can be a lot of self-criticism,
Wishing we were another way etc.
And we don't really want to fully embody who we are,
As it's uncomfortable.
Fearful and anxious symptoms manifest in the body and so we actually begin to lose trust in the body as a place of safety and security.
But when we're scared or nervous or anxious,
We need some sense of safety and comfort.
And so instead of constantly trying to find solace in outer unreliable sources,
It can be really enriching to start to come back into relationship with your body and take comfort in it.
Like a little safe haven for you,
That you can really rely on or find rest in and support in.
And this really starts to shift how you hold yourself,
How you inhabit the body and your relationship with fear and anxiety.
But of course this often isn't easy,
As many of us are quite disembodied.
And so for many of us it can be a gradual deepening of a relationship,
Nurtured over time.
But I'd like to introduce you to it in this session,
As it's something important to begin to reflect on.
Like just planting a little seed and letting it grow.
So let's do that in a meditation together.
Usually I like meditations to be quiet,
As it's easier to really drop into deep self-awareness.
But for this practice,
There will be healing singing bowls playing,
As a support for you.
Especially created for you by Christoph Lambrechts from Akshara Sound Healing.
So you can just let go and enjoy.
So as we begin,
Find yourself somewhere comfortable to be.
You're welcome to be seated on the floor,
Or sitting in a chair to support your body,
Or even laying down if that's more comfortable for you.
Let your body tell you what it needs right now.
When you're comfortable,
You can gently close your eyes and give yourself a moment to arrive into the meditation.
As you gradually settle,
It's almost like you need to give yourself permission to be here,
Present in the moment,
And present in your body.
Right now you are totally safe.
There's nowhere else you need to be right now.
There's nothing you need to be doing right now.
Just let everything else go,
And let yourself be with your breath in your body.
Letting the healing sounds move through your body and comfort you.
Notice how your breath feels in your body.
Maybe you notice the air coming in and out of your nostrils and throat.
How your lungs,
Ribs,
And belly rise and fall as you breathe in and out of your body.
Become aware of how when you breathe in,
There's a sense of drawing in.
And when you breathe out,
There's a sense of letting go and releasing.
And allow your body to follow that.
Deeply letting go and relaxing each time.
Start to notice if you can feel into your body.
Gently scan around your body to notice where you can feel.
Kind of like you're in a dark cave.
Slowly shining a torch light around the cave to see what's there.
Letting yourself be curious and allowing yourself to really be with what's present there.
Right now.
If you notice any tension or holding in your body,
Your neck and shoulders area,
Or maybe the muscles in your face.
With the quality of a long slow out breath,
Let that area in your body deeply soften.
And relax toward the ground.
You can keep doing that whenever you notice tension in the body.
Letting go.
Relaxing.
You could notice the ground below you.
Maybe that's a chair or a bed.
Notice the sensations of where it meets your body.
For a moment notice how that ground really supports you.
And kind of holds you.
As much as you can,
See if you can trust that ground.
And really let your whole body deeply relax into it.
Breath by breath.
As you begin to settle and touch into an inner quiet and stillness.
It can feel deeply nourishing.
You are safe here.
You can let go.
As you relax there,
Let's have a feel around the body.
For anything that feels pleasant.
Or satisfying.
Maybe you feel there's something quite nice about the calm and the quiet.
And let yourself enjoy it.
Or maybe you like how your relaxed muscles and body feels.
If you feel into your heart center,
You could maybe feel a sense of peace.
A sense of love or joy there.
Maybe even just subtly.
All these things can feel very nourishing and comforting.
Whatever you notice in the space of your body that feels pleasant somehow.
Let yourself enjoy it.
It doesn't need to be something huge.
It can often be the beginning of noticing all these pleasant and nourishing subtleties in the body.
And let them open out.
And allow yourself to take comfort in them.
If you notice yourself getting pulled out by thoughts or worries.
Take a deep breath in.
And as you breathe a long slow breath out.
Deeply relax your body again.
Gently coming back to the present moment.
And into your body.
Maybe noticing how comforting that feels.
Letting yourself really relax and rest.
Notice how when you feel rested in the space of your body.
The outside world doesn't matter as much.
Your inner world is so much more important.
And even if it can often feel uncomfortable.
It has really rich resources to it.
It's your alchemical vessel that carries you through life.
A safe held space.
That allows you to enjoy adventures.
Meditate.
Love friends and family.
As with anything this new relationship takes time.
To form a deep bond of trust.
But this grows and expands in time.
And gradually you can transform how you inhabit your body.
And enjoy all the enrichment and support from it.
So if you feel that you struggle to really let go and be fully in your body.
Please don't worry it's very normal.
It could mean that you just need time.
To begin to come back into relationship with the body.
And fully trust it.
I encourage you to take your time with it.
J.
Krishnamurti wrote.
In oneself lies the whole world.
And if you know how to look and learn.
Then the door is there and the key is in your hand.
Nobody on earth can give you that key for the door to open.
Except yourself.
Also feel free to explore other avenues.
That might bring you back into relationship with your body.
That might be a body sweep meditation.
Yoga.
Or some time in nature.
All these things can bring us into deeper connection with ourselves.
And support our journey of healing.
Remember to be kind to yourself as well.
Always holding yourself and your experience.
With as much love and compassion as you can.
If you can gently come back into relationship with your body.
And fully embody it.
It can give you a great sense of courage and strength.
And really start to change your relationship with fear.
Or anxiety that arises.
If you found this practice helpful.
And would like to explore a little deeper.
Into how to transform your relationship with fear or anxiety.
Or try different support tools.
Then you're welcome to have a look at my course.
Transforming Fear and Anxiety.
Thank you for meditating with me.
And hopefully see you there.
