Morning Stillness for a Tough Day

0:07Welcome to this moment of stillness before the day begins.

0:13Just find a comfortable position and let your body settle.

0:18It Doesn't matter whether you're sat down or lying down.

0:25And just to simply connect the mind and the body. Just take a slow deep breath and just hold it

0:32for a few seconds.

0:37And then gently let go and allow your body to relax.

0:43Allow your breath to be just what it is. Your

0:48body knows how to breathe. It's been doing it a long time without you even paying any attention.

1:00Just breathing in calm and breathing out relax

1:12As we invite the body to relax. And just as your breath, your body knows how to relax. As your

1:18body knows how to breathe. It's just allowing these things to happen. So

1:25if you allow your shoulders to relax. Allow your face. Even

1:32your tongue and your ears. Allow your eyes.

1:38Allow your hands and your feet

1:43And your bum and your legs.

1:48And just allowing the whole body to relax.

1:52Breathing in calm. Breathing out, relax.

2:06You already know today's going to hold challenges for you. And that's why you're here. Choosing

2:14to meet this day not with resistance but with presence. And that takes courage.

2:22Firstly, let's honor that You're here and you're showing up.

2:32Now if you gently place your attention on your heart centre, you might imagine a warm soft light there.

2:40Whatever kind of feels like home to you.

2:57And with each breath, just allow the light to grow slightly brighter.

3:07Allow it from the heart centre to fill your whole body.

3:13And from your heart centre, this is your anchor. This is the place from which you will move through everything

3:20that comes your way today.

3:33And the reason why we do it from the heart centre is because it's wiser sometimes than the head thinking.

3:40It's got more compassion. It's got loads of lessons from years and decades

3:48and thousands of years of human evolution. All based within your heart to deal with

3:55tough days like today. And

3:59from this heart space, just visualize your day ahead. Not

4:04all at once, just the very first step perhaps.

4:10See yourself taking that one step with grace into

4:16perhaps a situation that you're not looking forward to.

4:24And just imagine yourself wisely responding with compassion,

4:32with caring and empathy and understanding.

4:39And now let the scene just gently shift into the next scene.

4:50You are simply walking through your day, one moment at a time,

4:56led by the wisdom of your heart rather than the urgency of your mind.

5:08And as you move through this visualization, you might find it jumped around a little. That's okay, that's what the

5:15mind does.

5:18You may notice some faces of others. Some

5:23of these people may be part of what makes today feel difficult.

5:30Here is a truth that's worth holding gently. Everyone

5:35is doing the best they can from where they are.

5:39This doesn't mean their actions always right. It simply means that beneath every behaviour is a human

5:47being shaped by their own fears, their limited understanding, their ignorance.

6:01This doesn't mean their actions are always right. It

6:05simply means that beneath the behaviour is a human being shaped by their own fears. And their

6:13limited understanding as well. Just as we all are.

6:20And this truth includes you. It

6:24includes me.

6:27You too are doing your best you can from where you are.

6:38Now as we close, I offer you three intentions to carry with you.

6:46And when you say these to yourself, just perhaps put your hand on your heart and really feel what it's

6:52like for it to be totally true throughout your body and throughout the day.

7:00I have all the wisdom and compassion to face whatever comes my way

7:10I have all the wisdom and compassion to face whatever comes my way

7:22May I move through this day with compassion for myself and for everyone I meet

7:34May I move through this day with compassion for

7:38myself and everyone I meet.

7:45May I remember to be kind to myself and to others today.

7:55May I remember to be kind to myself and others today.

8:08And I'm just going to count back from five in a moment. And if at any point during the day

8:14that it does get a little too tough, just take a breath, breathe in calm, breathe out, relax. And

8:23just feel what it's like coming from the place of your heart centre rather than your head.

8:32So five, four. Just gently open your eyes. Three, shake out your

8:39arms to wiggle your fingers and toes. Look around the room. One, just take that breath and

8:46just recognise you're here and recognise that you've got this. You've always managed it before. You've probably had tougher

8:54days before.

8:59And believe in yourself. You've got this. You're already showing up and You

9:07have everything you need to get through today with the wisdom, kindness and compassion. Take

9:14care. You've done the inner work. Now go gently into your day.

9:20I'm Steven Webb and thank you for your support. All these meditations on this podcast are totally free

9:28due to the kindness of people treating me to a coffee. Take care.