Permission to Rest

Hello there, it's Rosie, meditation and mindfulness teacher at Headspace. Do you find it difficult to make time for yourself, to really, truly rest and relax? It is not always easy to do so, so please know that you're not alone if you're nodding your head. This exercise is all about giving yourself permission to rest, and this is something that I've had to work on myself over the years. When I first started practicing meditation, I had a difficult time sitting still. Stillness, to me, meant an opportunity for my worries and anxiety to settle and expand. I didn't think resting was going to help anyone, so instead, I felt compelled to keep myself distracted and busy at every moment. We live in a world where we are constantly being pulled in many different directions. We fill moments of stillness with monotonous scrolling, instead of giving ourselves a moment of peace, a moment where we can truly rest. Our attention is one of our biggest resources, and it is limited. When we keep ourselves distracted or busy, there are typically great consequences. We can get burnt out. We can become resentful. We can be in a constant state of overwhelm, and at worst, it can make us sick. For some reason, many find it easier to rest when given permission by another person. But what if you gave that permission to yourself? What if you could allow yourself in those moments, like right now, an opportunity to just be there, where you are, simply at rest? Let's begin by finding a comfortable position. This could be sitting or laying down. It's best for you to be in a position where you can be there for just a few minutes. Adjust yourself as you need. If you like, you can begin to close your eyes. If it's easier to keep your eyes open, have your gaze rest on a point in front of you, soft enough to where your eyelids can rest comfortably. Become aware of your breath and your body breathing. Notice the busyness of the mind or the fluctuation of thought. For the next minute, let the mind do and think whatever it wants. Give the mind full permission to plan, to think, to make lists, and so on. Begin now. Begin to set an intention for your practice. I suggest using the affirmation, "I give myself permission to rest." Feel free to repeat this throughout this meditation. Notice what happens when your body begins to settle in. If this is difficult for you at any point, come back to this practice at a different time. Now, begin to let go of any thinking or doing, and as best you can in this moment, allow your body to relax. Whenever you notice your mind beginning to wander, simply return to your intention. I give myself permission to rest. If your mind has wandered, just notice, and have the intention to breathe and relax. Let your breathing be as...