Hi Zen friend . Yes , you , I'm talking directly to you today . Does it feel like , no matter what you do , you are coming up short in some area of your life ? Maybe it's more than one , sometimes that happens for me . Well , on today's drop of Zen , our short guided meditation , I am going to offer some encouragement as you take some time to nourish yourself .
Speaker 1Let's get started . Please find a comfortable spot to sit or lie down in . Make sure you are not driving . You want to be able to close your eyes or just have a nice soft gaze downward . You want to be able to focus on nothing else but getting comfortable and listening to this short meditation .
Speaker 1Start out by just noticing your breath . You don't need to guide it , but just notice it . Just start bringing your attention there , noticing the inhale , the exhale , and then ask yourself where does it feel like I'm coming up short lately ? Are you trying to set loving limits and boundaries for a tween or teen and are they getting frustrated with you ? Are you trying to offer someone love and support , and maybe they too are getting frustrated with you ? Or maybe they don't seem to appreciate it ? Did you not get credit for your idea at work ? Maybe that went to someone else ? Do you feel like your partner isn't seeing you or isn't appreciating all that you do for them ? Maybe something else ? Just notice what comes up for you . As I ask that question , it might be more than one thing , it's okay . Just notice it , just allow whatever pops into your mind to come up for you .
Speaker 1Now I want to ask you can you give yourself that gold star that you need ? Can you tell yourself that you are doing a great job ? You are working hard ? You are trying to be a good parent , or you are trying to be a good employee , a good partner ? Whatever roles you fill in your life ? Notice where you're trying hard and know that it's perfectly normal and very common to feel discouraged at times . It's a human emotion and a human experience . Sometimes we're looking to others to validate us and really we need to start by validating ourselves . Can you tell yourself you are doing a great job ? Really sit with yourself for a moment , telling yourself that . However , you need to hear it . Maybe you can have images flash in your mind of all the things you're working hard at . Or maybe you can imagine an older , wiser version of yourself sitting there with you , looking at you with love and compassion and acknowledging all that you're doing . Maybe you need something else . Just give yourself whatever you need right now , that affirmation , that validation , that encouragement , that praise , whatever it is that you need . I , too , want to tell you that you are doing a great job .
Speaker 1You're listening to a podcast that is intended to boost your mental health and overall well-being . You're taking time for a guided meditation . You are doing a fantastic job , really . Let that fill you . Let that praise sink in . Stay here with that as long as you need to , and remember that we can't control others , but we can always check in and identify what we need and give that to ourselves . Staying here as we take just one more nice deep breath in all together and exhale what you don't need . Let it go . Take your time , opening your eyes with a nice soft gaze . I'm so glad you joined me here today . You are doing a fantastic job . You are enough . Until next time , friends , I hope you'll continue to take some time today and every day to do something kind for yourself . You deserve it .