Welcoming All of Yourself

Find a comfortable position, whether seated, standing, or lying down. Allow your body to settle into a posture that feels stable and at ease. If it feels right, you can gently close your eyes or maintain a soft, unfocused gaze.

Take a deep, cleansing breath, filling your lungs completely. As you exhale, let go of any tension you may be holding in your jaw, shoulders, or anywhere else in your body. With each breath, feel yourself arriving more fully in the present moment.

Now, bring your attention inward. Notice any thoughts, emotions, or physical sensations that arise. Without judgment, simply acknowledge their presence. As each aspect of your experience comes into awareness, silently say to it, "You are welcome here."

Perhaps there's a thought that's been troubling you, a worry that keeps resurfacing. Meet it with kindness and whisper, "You are welcome here." Maybe there's a tightness in your chest, a heaviness in your heart. Breathe into that space and say, "You are welcome here."

Continue this practice, welcoming each part of your experience, no matter how challenging or uncomfortable it may seem. Remember, by acknowledging and accepting these aspects of yourself, you're not giving them power over you. Instead, you're creating space for them to be seen, heard, and ultimately, to pass through you.

As you welcome more and more of yourself, you may begin to feel a sense of expansion, a softening around the edges of your being. You're no longer fighting against your own experience, but rather, making room for all of it. This is the path to wholeness, to true inner peace.

Let's take a few more moments to rest in this all-embracing presence. Welcoming any final thoughts, feelings, or sensations that arise. Breathing in, "You are welcome." Breathing out, "Here."

And now, gently bring your awareness back to your breath, to the physical sensations of your body. When you're ready, slowly open your eyes, letting the light and colors of your surroundings fill your vision. As you move through the rest of your day, see if you can carry this spirit of welcome with you. Meeting each moment, each encounter, with an open and accepting heart.

Remember, every part of you is deserving of love and belonging. By practicing this radical self-acceptance, you're planting the seeds for a more compassionate, more peaceful way of being – for yourself and for all those whose lives you touch.

Thank you for sharing in this practice with me today. Until next time, be well and be kind to yourself.