Hello and welcome.
I am Rashid Zahidi,
Creator and author of the Emojim Journal,
A journal and workbook for emotional awareness and for balancing your wheel of life.
In this meditation,
We explore the balance between willpower and surrender,
Focused on inner awareness,
Breath,
And decision-making strain.
Begin by finding a comfortable position.
You can sit upright with a relaxed spine or lie down if that feels more natural.
Gently close your eyes and bring your awareness to this moment.
Take a slow,
Deep breath in through the nose and out through the mouth.
You can continue to repeat this as you let your body begin to settle,
Letting go of any need to perform or achieve in this moment.
Let each inhale invite presence and let each exhale be an invitation to release tension.
Now begin to notice the natural rhythm of your breath.
No need to change it,
Just observe.
And as you do that,
Let this question arise gently in your awareness.
Where in my life am I pushing too hard?
Where might I be holding on too tightly?
As you breathe,
Simply allow answers to emerge without judgment or story.
If nothing comes right away,
That's okay.
Just stay open as you breathe and you ponder this question.
Where in my life am I pushing too hard?
And then this other question.
Where might I be holding on too tightly?
Now ask,
Where might I be letting go or giving up too soon?
Or where am I avoiding discomfort or necessary effort?
Again,
Notice what arises.
You don't need to fix anything,
Just witness.
Where might I be letting go or giving up too soon?
Where am I avoiding discomfort or necessary effort?
As you breathe,
Again witness what comes up.
Notice what arises and no need to fix anything,
Just witness.
Now bring your attention to your body.
Notice any areas of tightness,
Any areas of heaviness or resistance.
See if those areas might represent places where you're clenching,
Controlling or forcing.
Now shift your awareness to any spaces of softness,
Ease or openness.
These might represent areas where you've surrendered,
Trusted or let go.
Let your breath gently move into the tight places,
Not to force change but to create space.
Let it also settle into the open places,
Appreciating the peace that comes from allowing,
Simply allowing.
Now you can visualize and imagine standing at a crossroads.
One path is marked willpower,
The other path is marked surrender.
See yourself holding a gentle balance between the two,
Like holding two cups of water in your hands,
Not spilling,
Not gripping tightly,
Just holding with awareness.
And you can quietly repeat in your mind,
I know when to act and I know when to allow and when to surrender.
I trust my inner wisdom to guide me.
Breathe into this truth,
I know when to act and I know when to allow.
I trust my inner wisdom to guide me.
Now slowly bring your attention back to your breath.
Feel the rise and fall of your chest.
Feel the contact between your body and the surface supporting you.
When you're ready,
Take one deep intentional breath in and release it slowly.
Gently wiggle your fingers and your toes.
When it feels right,
Softly open your eyes.
Let this practice remind you,
You are not either will or surrender,
Not one or the other.
You are the space in which both can exist and flow.
Thank you for listening.
