Dear Listeners,
It is late in the day and later still in the month, and like many, I’ve been wading through the churn of work, side projects, and my own health. This personal backdrop—coupled with the larger whirlwind we all seem to be navigating—led to the creation of today’s meditation.
In a world accelerating toward ever greater complexity, there is perhaps no more important act of self-preservation than the deliberate pause. While the concept of a “vacation” is appealing, its execution can be challenging: travel may be impractical, schedules too rigid, and caregiving demands unrelenting. The result? Rest becomes deferred, indefinitely. No bueno.
Today's meditation offers a modest alternative, but a method for the long haul: a guided visualization, crafted to encourage deep relaxation and nervous system recalibration. I came to this out of necessity. A brief yin yoga class today—of 20 minutes— was enough to refuel my system and remind me of the cumulative value of repetition, nourishment and quieting down. When a few of my patients echoed the need to relax, it became clear it was worth recording this and sharing.
The pace of change in our external environment shows no sign of abating. If the world won't slow down, we have an opportunity to find ways to regenerate amidst its current. This is no easy task! Practicing radical acceptance—meeting reality as it is, without resistance—can be a powerful balm. It is, in fact, a meditation in its own right. Naming “what is” without attempting to alter it, even momentarily, can loosen the grip of tension and create inner spaciousness.
Consider this offering a resting place. A small sanctuary. A space to lay down your mental burdens, however briefly, and step outside the stream of busyness to reconnect with something quieter within.
As always, take care of yourself. SL
for the heck of it, check these articles out
Relaxation and Nervous System Regulation
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2012.01.021
Mind-Body Restorative Practices
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.13018
The impact of stress on body function: A review https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5579396/
I love this guy John Kabat Zinn The Science of Mindfulness (even though todays meditation was not a mindfulness practice) : https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/video/item/the_science_of_mindfulness
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