Welcome to part two of this three-part series.
Part one is where we practiced relaxing,
And in part two,
We will practice releasing,
Which also includes some relaxation.
And part three is going to be trusting,
Trusting yourself.
So I'm really glad that you're here,
That you are choosing to gift yourself with this time,
With your valuable attention.
Because in truth,
My friends,
All we have is our attention.
And it's so useful to gift it to ourselves,
To really learn how to practice and work with ourselves internally.
So today,
We're going to learn a technique for releasing the shoulds,
Because the shoulds are like shackles.
They keep us trapped,
They keep us limited,
And they actually encourage self-betrayal,
Which is the opposite of living in alignment with yourself.
So let us begin this meditation on releasing the shoulds.
Sitting with a long spine,
If that feels good.
And if you're someone who really needs to lie down,
Please do that.
Let's begin with releasing any shoulds that we might be holding around what meditation should look like.
So letting the eyes close and getting really comfortable,
Finding ease in the body.
And just as we practiced in part one,
Allowing your awareness to turn toward your breath,
The easeful rhythm of your breath.
There is no way you should be breathing.
So just let yourself,
Let yourself be.
Let yourself breathe.
Let yourself enjoy.
Enjoy the ease of breathing.
And every breath takes you deeper inside,
So you can let go.
Pausing.
Moving away from all the doing,
All the things that you are responsible for,
All the things that perhaps you feel you should do.
Just for right now,
Gather in all of your attention,
All of your attention and offer it to yourself.
Releasing the shoulds is opening a doorway to deep trust and freedom,
Freedom from conditioning,
Freedom from limiting beliefs.
So I invite you to turn your palms up.
And as you do,
You might become aware of some sensation,
Maybe tingling or pulsing,
Or you may notice that they're cool or warm,
Dry,
Or perhaps a little damp.
Just noticing.
No need to change anything.
The simple act of noticing is a gift and it brings you into this moment.
So with the palms turned upward,
I invite you to think of one thing,
Allowing a thought of,
I should.
For example,
I should meditate more often.
I should eat more vegetables.
Just see what arises for you.
Trusting whatever comes up.
And as it does,
Take a big breath.
And on the exhale,
You can let it release.
It can exit from that reservoir of thoughts called the head and gently flow down the arms into the wrists,
Into the palms,
And out through the fingertips.
And it might take a couple of breaths.
Trust your own experience.
And one breath at a time,
Releasing the shoulds,
All the shoulds that you have been carrying in your life.
Because that satchel of shoulds can become quite a burden,
Can become the ground for self-betrayal or self-criticism.
So right now,
Letting yourself release the shoulds with ease.
And we will sit together for a few minutes,
Letting the shoulds melt away,
Surrendering them into the earth,
Allowing them to be absorbed,
Transformed,
Composted.
Really hearing yourself say internally or even out loud,
I should.
And then taking a breath and releasing it,
Letting it melt down the shoulders,
The arms,
Wrists,
Palms,
Exiting out through the fingertips.
You might feel energy moving.
You may have feelings.
And everything is welcome.
Everything is welcome.
And yes,
This is a gift that you are giving yourself.
You are giving this gift to all the people in your life.
And it is indeed a gift to the world for you to relax,
To release,
And to discover more fully what it means to trust yourself,
Trust your deepest self.
Taking a few more breaths,
Releasing,
Letting go of what is no longer serving,
Making space for trust,
For truth,
For freedom.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for completing part two of this three-part series.
I look forward to being with you and to meditating together in part three on trusting.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
