Episode 31

full
Published on:

25th Jul 2023

Embracing Change Through Nature’s Guidance

The forest of uncertainty, which is a grand name for everything you do not yet know. Twelve minutes of walking into it anyway.

About 12 minutes with Steven Webb's calm voice.

There is a creek where every droplet is a change. Some cause ripples, some do not, and the creek gets on with it either way. Then an oak in a clearing that is you, and a seed you leave beside it. The one thing that is certain is that everything changes.

Treat me to a coffee, keep the podcast free, and get my Weekly Calm every Sunday. It is all on stevenwebb.uk

Thank you for sitting with me.

Steven

Stevens new course: Finding Peace in Everyday Life (you choose how much to pay)

Transcript
Steven Webb:

Welcome to the meditation, Embracing Change Through Nature's Guidance. Today we'll embark on a

Steven Webb:

journey through a forest, learning to navigate life's uncertainties with the wisdom of nature, and expect to

Steven Webb:

discover inner strength, resilience, and see the beauty in change as we walk this path together.

Steven Webb:

Before we start, let's please find a quiet place where you feel safe and comfortable. Free from any interruptions.

Steven Webb:

And you can sit or lie down in a relaxed position. And

Steven Webb:

when you're ready, just close your eyes and take a moment to connect with your body and breath.

Steven Webb:

So as I invite you to take a deep breath in through your nose and just hold it for a

Steven Webb:

moment

Steven Webb:

And then release through your mouth.

Steven Webb:

And if you repeat this a few times, allowing each breath to flow naturally and in time with whatever feels

Steven Webb:

comfortable.

Steven Webb:

Allowing this relaxation and calmness to wash over you like a wave.

Steven Webb:

Breathing in calm. Breathing out relax.

Steven Webb:

Breathing in calm. Breathing out relax.

Steven Webb:

And remember if your mind wanders, just smile and bring it back to your breath. It's okay. That's what the

Steven Webb:

mind does. It's important not to be frustrated by it.

Steven Webb:

And the same as relaxing your body. It's not something you can force to happen. It's something you allow to

Steven Webb:

happen.

Steven Webb:

You can just sit and allow your body to relax into this moment.

Steven Webb:

Now visualize yourself standing at the edge of a lush forest,

Steven Webb:

a sanctuary of ancient trees and blooming flowers

Steven Webb:

under a sky painted with the hues of a beautiful sunset.

Steven Webb:

This is the forest of uncertainty, a place that embodies all changes and unknowns in your

Steven Webb:

life.

Steven Webb:

It might look intimidating, but remember every forest holds beauty, growth and transformation.

Steven Webb:

And this forest is no exception. And this forest is especially for you.

Steven Webb:

As you stand before the forest, Acknowledge your feelings of uncertainty and change.

Steven Webb:

It's natural to fear the unknown, To feel overwhelmed by the prospect of stepping into an unfamiliar

Steven Webb:

landscape.

Steven Webb:

However, remember that within this forest There lies the opportunity for growth And a deeper discovery.

Steven Webb:

Every

Steven Webb:

tree, every path, every creature represents part of your journey. Your potential for adaptation

Steven Webb:

and resilience.

Steven Webb:

Now begin to walk toward the forest. Feel the crunch of the leaves under your feet. The coolness of the

Steven Webb:

breeze brushing against your skin. And the symphony of sound surrounding you.

Steven Webb:

Notice the towering trees, how they sway in the wind and they reach for the sky.

Steven Webb:

They

Steven Webb:

too have weathered storms and changes, yet they stand tall and robust. A testament to resilience

Steven Webb:

and growth.

Steven Webb:

You come to a small creek, its water gently flowing over the rocks.

Steven Webb:

Each droplet that joins the stream is like a moment of change in your life. Some droplets cause ripples.

Steven Webb:

Disrupt the calmness. Just like certain changes can unsettle us.

Steven Webb:

But look at the overall creek. It adapts. It flows. It finds a way. So

Steven Webb:

too can you.

Steven Webb:

And as you continue deeper into the forest, until you reach a clearing,

Steven Webb:

bathed in golden light of the setting sun, in the centre grows a mighty oak tree.

Steven Webb:

This tree symbolizes you With

Steven Webb:

your roots deep in the ground of your experiences and your branches reaching out to embrace the possibilities of change

Steven Webb:

and the unknown.

Steven Webb:

As you approach the tree, place your hand on its rough bar.

Steven Webb:

Feel the strength and the stability it possesses.

Steven Webb:

Know that this strength also resides within you.

Steven Webb:

You have the power to weather all changes,

Steven Webb:

to bend with the winds of uncertainty, yet never break.

Steven Webb:

In your other hand, imagine holding a small seed.

Steven Webb:

This represents the gift that uncertainty and change can bring.

Steven Webb:

Place this seed next to the mighty oak tree,

Steven Webb:

symbolizing your commitment to accept the uncertainties, to navigate the changes, and to discover the potential

Steven Webb:

for growth that this can bring.

Steven Webb:

Now begin to step back from the tree, back towards the edge of the forest. Carrying

Steven Webb:

with you the lessons you've learned and the strength you've found.

Steven Webb:

And as you emerge from the forest, the sun has set and

Steven Webb:

the first stars begin to twinkle in the night sky. Each one a beacon of hope,

Steven Webb:

reminding you that even in darkness there is beauty to be found.

Steven Webb:

And when you're ready, start to bring your awareness back to your physical surroundings.

Steven Webb:

Notice how you feel and how your breath continues to flow gently in and out.

Steven Webb:

Recognise your resilience and your strength and your capability to embrace uncertainty and change.

Steven Webb:

Remember the mighty oak tree and the little seed.

Steven Webb:

Whenever you face uncertainty, recall this vision and remember the lessons from the forest of uncertainty.

Steven Webb:

Take a final deep breath in and hold it for a moment

Steven Webb:

And then slowly exhale.

Steven Webb:

Open your eyes and return to the world around you, bringing with you the peace and understanding you've gained.

Steven Webb:

Remember every change, every uncertainty is an opportunity for growth, an opportunity to learn

Steven Webb:

and to become stronger. You

Steven Webb:

have the resilience and the strength to navigate any path that lies before you.

Steven Webb:

Good luck on your journey. You can return to this meditation often. And it'll give you the comfort you need

Steven Webb:

to face uncertainty and face change. Because one thing that is certain is that everything will

Steven Webb:

always change.

Steven Webb:

I'm Steven Webb and I've got another podcast, Stillness in the Storms. And you can support these meditations by treating

Steven Webb:

me to a coffee or a virtual hug on thankyousteven.com.

Show artwork for Inner Peace Meditations

About the Podcast

Inner Peace Meditations
Short guided meditations for people who cannot meditate. No jargon, no complicated breathing, no promises. Around fourteen minutes. Always free.
Short guided meditations for people who cannot meditate.

That is not a joke, it is the actual brief. If you have ever tried one of these and spent the whole time thinking about whether you were doing it right, then went back to scrolling, these are for you.

I am Steven Webb. I have ADHD and dyslexia, and my mind has never once gone quiet. I stopped trying to make it. That turned out to be the whole thing.

You do not have to empty your head. You never did. The thoughts are not the problem, your relationship with them is.

Most of these run around fourteen minutes. Morning ones to start the day a bit lighter. Evening ones to let the day settle. Some for anxiety, some for anger, some for the nights when sleep is not happening.

No complicated breathing. No visualisations you cannot hold. No promises about who you will be in thirty days.

Free, and staying free.

Steven Webb has been paralysed from the chest down since 1991. He teaches from the mess, not from the mountaintop.
Support This Show

About your host

Profile picture for Steven Webb

Steven Webb