Welcome kindred spirit, before we begin let's bring awareness to why you were drawn to this topic.
How does your body feel when you reflect on easing the mind?
What emotions come to the surface?
What beliefs do you have surrounding the mind?
What stories do you tell yourself and others about this?
How will being mindful about easing the mind help support your day to day life?
With a deep exhale bring a gentle awareness that others are feeling similar about this topic as you.
Let’s Begin
Although you cannot always control the mind, you can encourage it to be more at ease.
Learning to do this will help you respond rather than react to your thoughts and emotions.
This practice gives you the opportunity to train the mind to slow down when it becomes overactive, and helps you practice ease and relaxation instead of perpetuating those difficult mental states.
You can sit upright or lie down for this practice.
If you are experiencing anxiety or stress in this moment, lying down may encourage relaxation.
Take a few deep breaths.
Inhaling, fill the lungs completely.
Hold the breath for just a second or two, and exhale slowly.
As you let the breath go, try to empty the lungs slowly and completely.
Recognizing that you cannot control every thought that arises, connect with your intention to relax the mind.
If thoughts are present, just leave them be.
Offer yourself two simple phrases of kindness toward the mind:
May my mind be at ease.
May I be at ease with my mind.
Synchronize these phrases with your exhale, offering one phrase every time you breathe out.
Hear each word and try to connect with your own intention to care for the mind.
When the thinking mind starts up, come back to the breath and the phrases.
Even if you can say only one phrase before the mind wanders, you are still moving toward relaxation by continuing to practice.
Completing this practice, allow the eyes to open, and return to the activity of daily life.
Watch the mind during your day, noticing when it becomes uncomfortable or agitated.
Repeat again May my mind be at ease, May I be at ease with my mind.
Thank you for practicing easing the mind.