Access the workbook.

Written version.

A daily connection practice has been one of the biggest game changers in my chronic illness journey.  It’s precious to me, taking that time every morning - and whenever I need to throughout the day - to tune out all the noise, whether it’s happening outside of my body or inside my head, and actually listen, really hear the conversation my body’s having with me in that moment, and ask…

What do I really need?

It’s like taking a spoonful of the most nourishing soup.

Because, essentially, that’s what your Inner Healing Wisdom is…it’s the conversation your body and your chronic illness is having with you in any given moment.

Connection with your inner healing wisdom, away from all the noise, is an unadulterated way of understanding what it is that your very unique body needs; not someone else’s, not what you think you need based on what’s expected of you, not what you think will satisfy someone or something else.

Practice.

Before we begin, and you may want to pause this whilst you get ready, I want you to do today’s meditation in a place that helps you to feel safe, with any things that also help you feel safe.  That might be somewhere light or dark, somewhere inside or outside in nature…with a blanket, a special jumper, a scent.

Settle in a position that’ll be comfortable for the next few minutes.  When you’re ready, close your eyes or lower them to look just in front of you.  Take a couple of slow, steady, relaxing, nourishing breaths.

Stretch and shake your body out.  Roll your neck, wrists and ankles if they’re free to do so.  Shrug your shoulders up and down a few times.  Shake any parts of you that feel a bit energetic.  Do anything you need to do to release into the moment.

Allow any thoughts you’ve been having, or any experience you had in the lead up to now, to come.  Say goodbye to each one for the time being, allowing it to swipe into the distance.

Settle and take a few more breaths, deep into your belly.

Find a home-base, or something to focus on whilst all the other noise fades into the background.  Your breath is a great home-base, but you can also focus on the feeling of the air against your skin, the feeling of your tongue touching the back of your teeth, or even the background track in this meditation.

Tune into your inner safety.  Just as we practiced in the Safety module, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth through pursed lips, for an even count of 4 each way.  Do this for a couple of rounds and feel any walls that might be up, begin to lower.

Tune into your body, into what’s going on right now, and find equanimity.  Allow to be what is.

Ask yourself;

• What do I really need?

• What is my chronic illness asking of me?

Allow whatever words or nudges that come to mind, be, without judgement.  Trust that you’re hearing what needs to be heard.  Notice any resistance that comes up and get curious about why, and what that resistance might be telling you.

You might be able to give yourself what you need in the moment.  Maybe it’s a show of love and compassion by placing your hands over your heart, maybe it’s a nourishing squeeze.  Follow your lead.

Maybe what’s being asked of you is something you’ll need to put into practice once this meditation has finished.  An early night, a rain check on plans, a date with someone that fills you up, reaching out to someone for support.

Now, whether you have already or not, give yourself that squeeze or show of love by putting your hands over your heart.  There’s no such thing as too much of that!

If you want to further explore what came up for you today, take to the workbook or use the below prompts to journal.

What do I really need?  What came up when I asked that question?  Did I feel any resistance?  What could that be telling me?

What is my chronic illness asking of me?  How can I give that to myself?

Good to connect with you today.