Navigating Life's Transitions

(whimsical music) Headspace Studio. (whimsical music) Hey there. Welcome to Radio Headspace. I'm Kessonga. And it's transition Thursday. (Kessonga chuckling gently) Hmm, transition Thursday, huh? I wonder what I'm gonna be touching on today. (Kessonga chuckling gently) Yep, you guessed it, transitions changes the natural twist and turns that occur in just about everyone's lifecycle. And so, yeah, because just about everyone experiences these various fluxes in their life, please know that you're not alone, and hopefully knowing that you're not alone, this can help to ease some of the harsh judgment that we may put on ourselves when we're faced with these kinds of situations. Maybe now we can just be a little more gentle and compassionate with ourselves. After all, we're just human. Lemme tell you how this showed up for me recently. All this week, I've been referencing the silent retreat that I attended with my fellow Headspace teachers. In my humble opinion, these types of adventures are essential for self-care, and not just because I'm a mindfulness and meditation teacher. I truly believe anyone and everyone from any walk of life would get great benefit from attending a silent retreat. Being able to attend this particular one with my fellow colleagues was just an added bonus. A common feature of many meditation retreat centers is a labyrinth. So a labyrinth is a winding path structure that is usually laid out on open ground. It can be made of glass, tiles, stones, or other materials. This particular labyrinth at Big Bear was located in the middle of the woods, and it was made from the various stones and rocks that was found from the surrounding woods. At first glance, it looks like a circular maze, but unlike a maze, which has multiple branching paths that are meant to confuse or trick you, a labyrinth consists of a single winding, spiral shaped path that leads from the entrance to the center. Now, typically, a labyrinth is designed for walking meditation. You set your intention and then move slowly along the path, walking mindfully, focusing on your feet, your breath, noticing your thoughts until you reach the center of the labyrinth. The center of the labyrinth is often seen as a place for deep reflection, further meditation and contemplation. When you are ready, you then turn around and you do the same, mindfully walking back until you exit. Walking the labyrinth can have many meanings. For me, it represents the metaphorical journey that we are all taking in life, filled with various twists and turns. And we can allow ourselves to walk this journey of life mindfully with inner calm and clarity. What was so ironic about my experience at Big Bear's Labyrinth is that I got a little lost trying to find it. Now, granted, there were signs that led visitors in the right direction, but when I made a turn the sign said to make and I didn't see the labyrinth right away, I got in my...