Coping with Worries

Author Elizabeth Stone said that having a child is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. This quote captures the worries and angst that comes with all of the profound joys of parenthood. Sometimes it's hard to trust that our children are okay when we're away from them during the day or for an extended period of time. This practice helps cultivate a sense of connection and ease when you're concerned about your child. Loving kindness meditation has been shown to reduce stress and promote positive emotional states and a feeling of social connection. So let's start by finding a comfortable seated position. And as you get comfortable and situated, see if you can feel a lengthening in your spine. And then just notice the support of the surface underneath you. And you can rest your hands on your legs or in any other comfortable position. And if it's comfortable for you, feel free to close your eyes. And as we get started, give yourself permission to arrive in stillness, allowing it to be a smooth and slow transition. See if you can imagine the ease that you feel when you're done with a busy day and it's just time to relax in whatever way you'd like. See if you can bring that ease to this moment as you let go of what you have to do later, and just arrive here in this precious stillness. And then just take a deep breath in through your nose, feeling your abdomen expand. And as you exhale through your nose, feel the belly relax back down. And just do that a few more times, tracing the path of a few slow deep breaths. Now let go of any effortful breathing and just allow your breath to find its own natural, easy rhythm. And then just bring your spacious awareness to body sensations, listening to the body as we scan through it. Starting with your lower body. Just noticing sensations in your feet, your legs, your hips, and your abdomen. And then scan your upper body. Noticing sensations in your chest, your neck, and your throat. And scanning down your back, your arms. All the way down to your hands and your fingers. Now bring awareness to your face. If you discover tightness or tension around your forehead or eyes or jaw, just invite a feeling of ease without forcing it. Inviting the tiny muscles of your face to let go and relax. And, at any time in this practice, you can drop my instruction and just rest in whatever way feels comfortable for you. So we'll begin by bringing to mind a moment when you were kind. And see if you can maybe recall a photo of yourself as a child or a time when you showed care to someone that you love. And just allow this reflection to open your heart as you invite a feeling of tenderness. And if this feels challenging in any...