Hello,
This is Sam,
And welcome to a peaceful reflection about managing the fight or flight response in a healthy way.
Let's start by just settling into wherever you are and taking a big breath.
Any way you like,
Any way is fine.
Alright let's do that again.
Big breath in and release.
Good.
Let's focus on our breathing and keep our breath a little longer than normal.
Maybe settle in a little more.
Wiggle your fingers and toes.
Take a quick gander around you and see that there are no tigers or lions or bears in the room.
You are completely safe for the time being.
Now you may have picked this meditation because you are feeling a little anxiety at the moment or a lot of anxiety at the moment.
Even to the point of having some kind of maybe panic attack.
If that is the case,
I sincerely want you to know that everything is going to be alright.
I may not completely feel that way right now,
But I assure you it is.
So listen to my voice and repeat with me.
Everything is going to be alright.
I can do this.
I am safe.
Everything is going to be alright.
I can do this.
I am safe.
Everything is going to be alright.
I can do this.
I am safe.
Now just keep breathing.
Right now,
Part of your brain is trying to tell you the exact opposite of these affirmations.
The alarm bells are ringing,
Screaming all kinds of nonsense.
This brain developed a long time ago when we did have to worry about lions and tigers and bears.
It was especially useful back then for picking up on small cues that the rest of our brain might not be fully paying attention to,
Then cranking up the cortisol and adrenaline and putting us into the fight or flight response.
Nowadays,
It is not exactly socially acceptable to constantly be screaming at ambulances or sprinting away at high speeds whenever a bus drives by.
So instead,
We get anxiety,
Powerful anxiety.
This comes from a series of triggers that we won't get into,
But if we can acknowledge what's going on,
We can tone it down and make it manageable.
All it takes is to be a little honest with yourself.
Keep breathing.
Feel your belly and your diaphragm rise and fall.
Keep this up and just reflect on what spooked you.
For me,
It's usually traffic.
Other people putting me in danger by driving like jerks.
It could be anything though.
Take a minute,
Keep breathing and reflect on what it is that's got your back brain spooked.
All right.
Are there any bloodthirsty tigers in the room?
Probably not.
So whatever it is,
You can overcome it.
So either keep breathing deeply or repeat with me.
Everything is going to be all right.
I can do this.
I am safe.
Everything is going to be all right.
I can do this.
I am safe.
Everything is going to be all right.
I can do this.
I am safe.
Everything is going to be all right.
You can do this.
I am safe.
I am safe.
