Yes… we *can* decide. I think there’s something really empowering in remembering that we’re allowed to choose the timing; and even the act of placing it on the shelf is, in itself, a form of processing. Thank you for sharing this, Susan 🫶
Trusting your nervous system is a loving key that will create safety within. You are providing steps to feel into one's own inner safety while integrating, oodles of love to you for that.
Thank you so much 💛 I love what you’ve said... trusting our nervous system really is a loving key. Grateful for your words and for connecting over this shared practice of care 🫶
I do a version of this. When I sit down to meditate, I place all my thoughts, fears, and worries into a box and tell myself that for this time, they’re safely put away and I can pick them back up afterward if I still want to. It gives me enough breathing space to settle, and by the time I’m done, I’m usually calmer and grounded and better able to manage what I placed in the box.
Andrea, I love that 💛 A box is such a simple, perfect container. I imagine my own as a wardrobe in the sky (a little like the one from Beauty and the Beast) where thoughts, worries, and feelings can rest until I’m ready to open it. Giving yourself that breathing space is such a gentle, grounding act, and it reminds us all that it’s okay to set aside what we can’t manage right now. Thank you for sharing this, it’s so relatable and inspiring 🙏
I love your imagery! Yours sounds so magical and beautiful. I have aphantasia (inability to visualize), so for me, a boring old box is just fine because I can't see it anyway. I just "know" it's there.
I find this absolutely fascinating! I had a conversation once with a former colleague who also has aphantasia. She asked me if I could see an apple in my mind. I said yes. She asked if it was red or green… and I went: red… no wait, green… oh now it’s metallic blue and there’s a worm coming out of it! Clearly I sit on the wild side of the scale 😅
Lol that is so cool! And still so mind-boggling to me. 😅I didn't even know people could really see images like that until a few years ago, and I'm 54 now! Imagine my shock. But it did make a lot of things make so much more sense! And it prompted me to write a book on meditation for people with aphantasia (not just, but that was my inspiration), so I call it a win.🙂
That’s amazing, Andrea! 😍 Turning your aphantasia into a meditation book is such a gift. Love how our minds work so differently, yet we can all find our own little magic and grounding ✨
Thank you. I'm very excited about it! It's currently with my editor. I'm hoping to be traditionally published, but I'm fully prepared to self-publish if needed. Yes, I love the idea that our minds all work just a bit differently!
I can really relate to this Dana. My husband went to see his Mum yesterday as she's nearing the end of her life; a few family members were there too and I could feel myself being flooded with memories and emotions as he was telling me about the visit and what everyone was saying and doing. The idea of putting some of those feelings into a container to avoid overwhelm feels really helpful 💟
Aw, I’m so sorry to hear that, Karen 💛 It makes sense that hearing about your husband’s visit brought up memories and feelings of your own. A container can help in moments like this... holding what comes up safely without needing to process it all at once. Thank you for sharing so openly 🫶
I love the idea of the container Dana. We can decide how long it stays on the shelf.
Yes… we *can* decide. I think there’s something really empowering in remembering that we’re allowed to choose the timing; and even the act of placing it on the shelf is, in itself, a form of processing. Thank you for sharing this, Susan 🫶
Trusting your nervous system is a loving key that will create safety within. You are providing steps to feel into one's own inner safety while integrating, oodles of love to you for that.
Thank you so much 💛 I love what you’ve said... trusting our nervous system really is a loving key. Grateful for your words and for connecting over this shared practice of care 🫶
Oodles of love to you.
I do a version of this. When I sit down to meditate, I place all my thoughts, fears, and worries into a box and tell myself that for this time, they’re safely put away and I can pick them back up afterward if I still want to. It gives me enough breathing space to settle, and by the time I’m done, I’m usually calmer and grounded and better able to manage what I placed in the box.
Andrea, I love that 💛 A box is such a simple, perfect container. I imagine my own as a wardrobe in the sky (a little like the one from Beauty and the Beast) where thoughts, worries, and feelings can rest until I’m ready to open it. Giving yourself that breathing space is such a gentle, grounding act, and it reminds us all that it’s okay to set aside what we can’t manage right now. Thank you for sharing this, it’s so relatable and inspiring 🙏
I love your imagery! Yours sounds so magical and beautiful. I have aphantasia (inability to visualize), so for me, a boring old box is just fine because I can't see it anyway. I just "know" it's there.
I find this absolutely fascinating! I had a conversation once with a former colleague who also has aphantasia. She asked me if I could see an apple in my mind. I said yes. She asked if it was red or green… and I went: red… no wait, green… oh now it’s metallic blue and there’s a worm coming out of it! Clearly I sit on the wild side of the scale 😅
Lol that is so cool! And still so mind-boggling to me. 😅I didn't even know people could really see images like that until a few years ago, and I'm 54 now! Imagine my shock. But it did make a lot of things make so much more sense! And it prompted me to write a book on meditation for people with aphantasia (not just, but that was my inspiration), so I call it a win.🙂
That’s amazing, Andrea! 😍 Turning your aphantasia into a meditation book is such a gift. Love how our minds work so differently, yet we can all find our own little magic and grounding ✨
Thank you. I'm very excited about it! It's currently with my editor. I'm hoping to be traditionally published, but I'm fully prepared to self-publish if needed. Yes, I love the idea that our minds all work just a bit differently!
I can really relate to this Dana. My husband went to see his Mum yesterday as she's nearing the end of her life; a few family members were there too and I could feel myself being flooded with memories and emotions as he was telling me about the visit and what everyone was saying and doing. The idea of putting some of those feelings into a container to avoid overwhelm feels really helpful 💟
Sending love and strength to you all at this time 🫶
Aw, I’m so sorry to hear that, Karen 💛 It makes sense that hearing about your husband’s visit brought up memories and feelings of your own. A container can help in moments like this... holding what comes up safely without needing to process it all at once. Thank you for sharing so openly 🫶
Thank you Dana, a beautiful way to look at releasing our experiences we find heavy to carry 🙏🌱
Thank you, Clare 🙏 Even placing just one small piece in your container can be an act of deep self-care 🫶