Finding space.
Sometimes the voices get too much in my head.
Sometimes it feels crowded by all the ideas that I have allowed other people to put into my head.
Sometimes I feel the pressure like a big weight on my shoulders.
Sometimes my inner space gets crowded.
Crowded by things and thoughts that don't feel like they're truly mine.
When you're late,
There's so much input that we receive every day.
And our brain is a very good filtering mechanism.
And the default filtering that happens,
Because otherwise we would be so weighed down by the pure amount of information that is storming towards us.
Despite that good filter mechanism,
It can still be too much.
And when we filter,
It tends to be in old patterns,
In worn out ways that we recognize from before.
It seems that we are constructing the present moment from our past experience.
And we have that sense of it is an incoming flood wave that never stops.
So if this is a moment where you feel swamped,
Where you feel like you're drowning,
Take a deep breath with me.
And exhale.
And another one.
Slow deep inhale.
And exhale it with a sigh.
It is good to make that sigh audible because it is a signal to your nervous system that it is safe to relax.
There is a chime.
Another deep inhale.
Exhale.
If it feels like your nervous system is still quite activated,
Take the time to look from the right to the left,
To the right to the left.
Continue a few times.
Let your eyes wander all the way to the right and then let them wander all the way to the left.
And again.
And again.
It can even help to look over your shoulder to see whether there is something behind you or someone.
It is a way of reassuring our nervous system that it is safe to relax.
We reorient our nervous system to the space that we're in.
Take a moment to take in your current surroundings,
Whatever they may be.
Whether you're sitting,
Walking or standing or laying down.
What can you see in your surroundings?
And then what can you hear?
And from this place,
Feel back into the compression you are feeling and allow yourself to start finding some space.
We fully acknowledge the feeling of being flooded and having re-centered in our surroundings,
I now invite you to close your eyes.
If that feels unsafe,
You can lower your gaze.
Take another slow,
Deep breath.
Pause at the top for a little moment and then release it.
Notice the tiny pause at the bottom of the exhale before you draw the next breath in.
In that little pause at the bottom of your exhale lies the magic of finding space within.
That little moment of stillness allows you to find a micro-moment of where everything is at peace.
Continue to breathe slowly.
You don't have to force yourself to slow down the breathing.
You may allow it to gently lengthen over time,
Naturally.
With every exhale,
See if there is another little part in your body where you can release tension.
When we get flooded,
We tend to hold a lot of tension in our body.
So I invite you now with every breath,
With every exhale,
To release a bit more of that.
Release that energy so it can be recycled.
Trust in that you know how to do this.
Your body knows.
Maybe it feels good to place a hand on your solar plexus while you continue to stay present with your breath.
What a magical experience.
Feel the air coming in and out of your body.
And witnessing how bit by bit there is a tiny glimpse of space that opens up.
As the tension cracks,
The light can come back in.
And when we feel that we're breaking,
Those are the places that the light can come back in.
Instead of holding it together,
Can you allow yourself to release?
To let go of the grip.
To allow things to unfold.
To let the wave wash over you and cleanse you.
To let the wind or the storm blow through you and create some more space within.
As you witness more space within you,
Notice how much lighter this feels.
Notice how your breathing becomes more easeful.
Notice how your heart widens up a little more.
You are safe here in this space of having come completely home to yourself.
And know that this space is always here for you.
You can always place a hand on your silver plexus to remind yourself you are home.
You can anchor yourself to your breath.
Drop the tension with every exhale.
And let the space and the light come back in with every inhale.
Stay here for as long as feels good to you.
I send you all my love.
