Transforming Fear and Anxiety

Let's start by settling into a comfortable posture. This could be sitting, lying down or standing. If it feels okay to do so, you can close your eyes. And we'll take one deep breath together as a way to settle in. Breathing in through the nose.

And slowly out through the mouth. Inviting the jaw to soften. Let the shoulders be at ease. And the belly and hands. Just do a quick scan of your body and notice arethere any areas that are also holding tension.

Maybe the feet or muscles in the face. You can invite all of that to relax. The body doesn't need to be on right now. Letting the muscles relax around the skeleton. As we start to settle in, the breath can fall into its natural rhythm.

And let's just take a few moments to anchor our attention at the breath. As the mind wanders, gently bringing it back, this moment, this breath. The theme of this meditation is working with fear and anxiety. Specifically, learning how to meet it in such a way that we can be empowered through it. So notice if there is a sense of stress, anxiety, fear right now.

And if there's not, you can take a moment to imagine what that might feel like or even a scenario that would create a little bit of that fear and anxiety. You don't need to make it too strong, but just to get a sense of familiarity with it. Notice how our usual way of working with that is to turn it away or even view it as a negative. But instead let's change the narrative around this fear and anxiety. And as we sense it in the body, let's just say, Oh, this is my body trying to take care of me.

This is my body trying to empower me to meet the moment. This is my body trying to help me be more effective. Or, we just reframe the sensation as excitement. This is me getting ready for something. This is excitement moving through my body.

Just see what it's like to place that narrative on the experience. As we come to the end of the meditation. Let's take one more deep breath together. In through the nose. And out through the mouth.

And when you're ready, you can open your eyes again. Great job. So see if you can start to reframe the fear, anxiety, and stress as it arises throughout the day. The new narrative around it creates a new experience. Thank you for your practice.

And until we talk again, take care.