If you’re experiencing what feels like a storm of painful, unnerving, or overwhelming emotions these days, you’re not alone. Each of us, no matter where we are, is navigating the landscape of challenges that face our world right now—from personal losses, to conflicts within families and communities, to the devastation of wars and the climate emergency. It’s completely understandable to feel unprepared for all that we face.
With a little practice, we can soothe ourselves and maybe even find the wisdom in our emotional roller-coaster.
But the truth is, while the circumstances we’re in may seem unprecedented, the difficult emotions we’re feeling are part of our inheritance as human beings. We don’t have to ignore or push away what we’re feeling. With a little practice, we can soothe ourselves and maybe even find the wisdom in our emotional roller-coaster. The ability to be with and befriend our emotions is our foundation for finding the good, and for responding to the crises around us with skill and compassion.
In honor of World Mental Health Day, here are five guided meditation practices, shared by world-renowned mindfulness teachers, that you can explore to help you turn toward your emotions, fostering insight, curiosity, and self-compassion.
World Mental Health Day: 5 Guided Meditations to Help You When The World Feels Heavy
1) Tune In to What Your Body Needs
This short self-regulation practice, known as H.A.L.T., allows us to check in with a few of our basic needs and emotional state. In a nutshell, H beacons for asking ourselves: Am I hungry right now? A means checking in to see: Am I a