Now, focus on your breath. Pay attention to the air coming through your nose and into your lungs, then gently leaving your lungs again. Relax. Take another gentle but deep breath, and let it leave your body through your nose. Listen for the sound of your breath now. Listen to the sound as you breathe in, and listen for the gentle sound the air makes on its way out.
Now, keep breathing normally while bringing your full attention to your feet. Take a moment to remember something you have done but don’t feel you handled it all too well. We all have these moments sometimes. It’s normal and common. Choose something reasonably light, whether it involves other people or concerns only you. Perhaps it’s something you didn’t bother doing when you should have, or something you did when you were a bit angry. Remember, it’s nothing to worry about.
Now, consider the fact that this is in the past and it is gone. Imagine what would have been a better way of handling that particular situation. If you had a chance to replay the whole situation, what would you do differently? Focus on that for a moment.
Now, focus on your feelings about this situation. It’s time to let go of any discomfort or guilt. If another person is involved, simply say ‘Sorry’ to them in your mind and mean it. Let that go now too.
Pay attention to whether there is any more discomfort left in your body right now. Imagine your uncomfortable feelings as a ball of smoke in your body. Where is the ball? Find it.
Now, take a deep breath and as you breathe out, imagine breathing straight into the ball of smoke, letting it loosen up and leave your body. Visualize it evaporating and dissolving in the air around you. See a gentle wind blow it away, up, up, and into the universe.
Take another breath and clear any remaining residue of smoke. Let the wind blow that out as well. Repeat again if you need to, until you feel smoke-free and no longer sense it in your body.
Now, focus on the lightness in the area that you have cleared. Imagine a ray of beautiful golden light coming from the sky and filling this space. Feel the warmth and positivity of this light.
Remind yourself about the solution to the situation in case you need to encounter it again. See yourself behaving in this new way. Visualize the positive outcome of your new way of handling the situation. Feel confident. Trust that it works.
This is good. Gently, gently focus on your feet again. Remember you are sitting on the log. In your mind, stand up and walk back to the forest. Focus on your bare feet on the forest floor, feel the cool bed of leaves touching your toes and heels.
Now, slowly bring your awareness back to this room. Feel your feet on the ground. Feel your roots deep in the ground. As you keep focusing on your feet, bring your awareness to this room now fully. Become aware of the chair under your body. Listen for the sounds around you. Bring your mind back to your feet. Can you feel them? Gently wiggle your toes. Feel the full sensation of the floor beneath your feet. Slightly press them on the floor. Wiggle your fingers and rub your palms. Move your shoulders. Take a deep breath.
When you are ready, slowly open your eyes, first looking down, then up and up until you are looking straight ahead. Do this in your own time. When your eyes are open, give yourself a good stretch if possible, in silence, to give others space to do the same in their own time.