Certainly one of the most important challenges relating to having compassion for ourselves is the idea that we’re alone in our struggles. It is really easy to think, “I’m the just one who feels this manner. Nobody in my life is having as hard a time as I’m.”
Even when we all know, in our logical mind, that this just isn’t true, it could possibly be easy to fall right into a sense of isolation once we are struggling, especially if we’re keeping our struggles to ourselves.
Unfortunately, once we feel alone in life’s difficulties, it feels tempting to withdraw even further, which then creates a good stronger sense of aloneness.
This meditation is a delicate reminder that even when we’re physically alone or feel like we’re the just one to face this challenge, we’re never truly alone. Our experience is common to all of humanity.
To start, gently allow your eyes to shut and calm down into whatever position you’re in – allowing the bottom to support you, and envisioning how held you might be by the earth.
Take a deep breath, and picture respiratory into your heart space, nourishing that energy with oxygen and a focus.
Take one other deep breath, and picture bringing that air right down into your digestive organs, nourishing them with air.
Yet another big, healthy breath, right down into your legs and feet.
And exhaling, allowing your body to settle… your shoulders to melt down a bit… your jaw and face to calm down and to let go of any tension you is likely to be holding.
[pause]
Now, call to mind something you might be having a tough time with.
Try to decide on something that’s not insignificant but not traumatic, either.
