28. In Case of Emergency, Press Play: Permission Granted

We spend a lot of time telling ourselves what we should be doing.

We should be further along. 

We should have it figured out. 

We should say yes. 

We should be handling things better.

Honestly, sometimes we just need to stop should-ing all over ourselves. 

This short guided meditation is your permission slip to rest, change your mind, say no, take more time, or simply not know what comes next.

You don’t have to earn rest. You don’t have to explain every choice. And you definitely don’t have to have it all figured out.

When you’re tired of should-ing all over yourself, press play. 

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The theme music for this episode, “Cenote Angelita”, was written and produced by Mar Abajo Rio AKA MAR Yoga Music. Dive deeper into this and other orig...

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hi, this is Adrian. Welcome back to another episode of In Case of Emergency Press Play. We spend a lot of time telling ourselves what we should be doing. We should be further along. We should have it all figured out. We should be handling things better. Honestly, sometimes we just need to stop shoulding all over ourselves. This short guided meditation is your permission, slip to rest, change your mind, say no, or simply not know what comes next. You don't have to earn rest. You don't have to explain every choice. And you definitely don't have to have it all figured out. So when you're tired of shutting all over yourself, press play. Welcome to your practice. Take a moment to settle into a comfortable position. Notice the weight of your body being supported beneath you. Soften your shoulders. Unclench your jaw. Take a slow breath in through your nose. And gently breathe out through your mouth. Now bring your attention inward. Notice if there's something you've been carrying lately that has the word should attach to it. Something you should have done by now. Someone you should be for other people. A decision you should have made. You don't have to fix it. Just notice what comes up. Now imagine that thought written on a small piece of paper in front of you. Maybe it says, I should be stronger. I should be able to handle this. I should know what I'm doing. Whatever yours says, simply see it. Now imagine gently turning that piece of paper over. On the other side is one word. Permission. You have permission to be exactly where you are. You have permission to need more time. You have permission to rest without making rest productive. And you have the permission to disappoint someone if saying yes means abandoning yourself. You have permission to say, I don't know yet. Take a slow breath in. And as you breathe out, imagine creating a little more room for yourself. Room to choose. To listen. Room to decide what you actually need instead of automatically doing what you think you should. Maybe today you need permission to stop or to begin again. Or you need help. Or you need to take an easier path. Or maybe you simply need permission to have absolutely no idea what comes next. Place one hand somewhere on your body that feels grounded in you. Your heart, your abdomen, or your legs. Quietly remind yourself I am allowed to listen to myself. I am allowed to rest. And I am allowed not to have everything figured out. And perhaps most importantly, I don't need permission from everyone else to give permission to myself. Take one more slow breath in and a long breath out. Notice the space around you. And before you move on with your day, ask yourself one simple question. What would I give myself permission to do if I stopped worrying about what I should do? You don't have to have the answer right away. Just let the question stay with you. Begin to bring a little movement back into your fingers and your toes. Slowly return your attention to the space around you. And when you're ready, open your eyes. From my heart to yours. Wherever you are right now, take a breath. Loosen your grip a little. Be bold. Listen and be impeccable with your words. Do meaningful work and leave things better than you found them. We didn't plan for this, but we're here.