Good day and welcome to today's meditation.
Today we are looking at reframing irrational thinking.
I'd like to invite you to start by making yourself comfortable.
Sit or lie down in any position as long as you are comfortable and you can remain focused during your meditation.
Start by relaxing the muscles in your body,
Starting with your eyebrows,
Your jawline and lips,
Your tongue.
Soften your shoulders,
Relax your hands,
Soften your belly and begin to feel the sensation of life all the way down from your hips to your toes.
Take a moment now to shift your attention to your breath.
Feel the air moving through your body and if you haven't already close your eyes.
Take time to shift your attention to your thoughts.
What is happening here for you?
Are your thoughts weighing you down?
Are they consuming you and taking you away from the present moment living?
You will know when this is happening if you are constantly asking yourself questions followed on by answering them,
Getting stuck in a vicious cycle of questions and answers.
Take a deep breath here.
Try to notice the elements of your thinking pattern.
Is it catastrophic thinking?
So I can't do this,
It's impossible,
This is the worst day ever.
Or do you have an all-or-nothing approach of thinking?
If I can't get this a hundred percent correct then this will be a complete disaster.
It's a failure or a form of disqualifying.
So what's the big deal?
That was pure coincidence or luck.
Take a moment here and if there are any emotions or thoughts that stop in,
Simply notice them and return to the practice.
Our bodies normally gives us the first indication that something is amiss.
What is happening in your body right now?
Notice the sensations.
Do your throat feel thick or tight?
Is your belly in a knot?
Are you tightening your jaw?
Are you clasping your hands?
Take a moment,
Notice.
Now with some compassion towards yourself I'd like to invite you to repeat the following,
Whether it's in your mind or out loud,
Each time you catch yourself with an irrational thought.
Say to yourself,
This is tough,
This situation is really hard but I will get through it.
Perfection is unrealistic.
The only thing that is important is the fact that I gave it my all.
I tried my best.
I am proud of my work.
I worked really hard at it.
The more we show compassion towards ourselves during these moments we offer ourselves the opportunity and the power to reframe our thoughts.
This is not impossible.
It takes practice.
Do it often.
Give yourself the voice you need to accept that you are not your thoughts and when we accept this in its purest form this is the very moment we start to become awakened.
Take a gentle breath in and slowly open your eyes.
