Heartache

Mindfulness teaches us how to acknowledge and be with strong emotions. Heartache and heartbreak is no different. If you are listening to this meditation, I'm assuming you're dealing with some type of heartache. So I want to start by offering you a validating hand of compassion and care. And next, dropping right into practice, sitting in a comfortable, dignified posture of awareness, and if comfortable for you, taking three gentle, deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. And with that third exhalation, allowing the breath to return to its natural rhythm. And in this next moment, as a way of supporting yourself, I invite you to place your right hand over your heart. And then gently place your left hand over your right hand. And making sure to be gentle with yourself, bringing your awareness to the strong emotions that are present for you in regard to your heartache, clearly identifying the strong emotions that are present. So there may be some sadness, some hurt, some shame, some anger. Knowing that whatever you discover is perfectly okay, you're allowed to experience these feelings. We're learning how to co-exist with them. And now seeing if you can locate within the body where and how you may be experiencing these strong emotions, a tightness in the throat or the chest, or maybe flowing tears in the eyes, just noticing without judgment, pausing if you need to, and then rejoining where you left off. And as we close out, allowing ourselves to bathe in some self-compassion by bringing to mind one or two positive affirmations. So they may sound like, "I am whole right now." "This moment is my new beginning," or "I'm so grateful for my heart to be healing right now." And then taking a gentle, deep breath, in through the nose and out through the mouth, gently opening the eyes if they were closed, knowing that this is a process, always being gentle and patient with yourself and coming back to this meditation whenever you need to....