Welcome to this gentle meditation on dealing with anxiety around our health.
Know that anxiety is a normal thing and anxiety about our health is not uncommon.
It happens to so many of us and it is something that we may all experience at some time.
Be gentle with yourself.
Take some time out now to acknowledge where you are and know that things will get better.
Find somewhere quiet to sit or lie down.
A place where you feel safe and warm.
A place where you won't be disturbed.
Then softly close your eyes.
Take a deep breath in and feel it fill your lungs.
Hold it for a moment then let it gently out again.
Repeat with another long deep breath.
Hold it for a moment then let it out gently with a long deep sigh.
Do this one more time until you start to feel yourself soften and unwind.
Being anxious around your health is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about.
The way we react to circumstances in our lives varies for all of us.
We learn certain beliefs from our parents and we take on behaviours due to our life experiences.
If someone we love is ill or injured we learn to take on worry.
Then if we ourselves are affected by an illness or diagnosis this worry becomes fear and often it becomes more profound.
We react from our learned behaviours and whatever has happened in our past.
It's very easy to catastrophize something when we feel out of control.
All the what ifs,
The shoulds,
The possible outcomes come to mind.
All the hopelessness appears and our anxiety takes an even stronger hold.
But what if we accepted this and saw it for what it was?
What if we let go of the control?
What if we recognised the patterns we were falling into?
What if we accepted our fears and understood where they have come from?
Would that make a difference?
Place your hand on your heart and feel its gentle beating.
Feel your chest rising in and out with every breath you take.
You are safe now.
Feel your body soften with every beat of your heart.
Feel its peace.
Feel its love.
Now imagine the sun shining as a golden ball of light above your head.
It is warm.
It is bright.
It is healing.
And shining down on you with love.
Feel its rays like a soft glow upon your face.
Feel its warmth spread slowly down your cheeks,
Into your shoulders and arms.
Feel it fill your chest and belly.
Relax as this golden glow flows down your back and legs to the tips of your toes.
Then feel this golden light fill up every single cell.
Let it settle on any parts of you that are in pain.
Let it settle in every area of discomfort.
Feel it fill every space with light and love.
Feel this light replace any anxieties that you may feel.
Feel the peace.
Rest in the universe's love.
Rest in its gentle wisdom.
Know that it is always guiding you.
Know that you are divine.
Created as pure and whole.
Feel this gentle essence fill you up.
Rest in the quiet.
Rest in the peace.
If any thoughts or feelings of anxiety arise,
Let them sit there.
Know that they are just gentle reminders of your past.
Know that they have been there to protect you.
Know that the future is out of our hands.
It is our present that we can influence.
Keep your hand on your heart and rest it gently there.
Bring your attention back to your breath,
The very essence of you.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
And feel yourself unwind.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
And feel the peace return.
Lao Tzu said,
If you are depressed,
You are living in the past.
If you are anxious,
You are living in the future.
If you are at peace,
You are living in the present.
Let the present guide you.
Let it be your anchor.
Let it be your light.
When fear or anxiety arise,
Acknowledge them.
They are familiar fellow travellers.
But they no longer need to show you the way.
You have your own path now.
Come back to your centre.
Come back to your heart.
You have found your way home.
And when you are ready,
Slowly open your eyes.
