1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:08,200 Steven Webb: Hi, I'm Steven Webb and welcome to Inner Peace Meditations. The podcast that brings meditations to you free to 2 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:09,980 Steven Webb: help you through the most difficult times. 3 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:17,890 Steven Webb: Today we are practicing giving space. No forcing calm. No pushing thoughts away. 4 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:20,320 Steven Webb: No trying to fix everything. 5 00:00:21,660 --> 00:00:25,720 Steven Webb: Just giving space to notice what is actually here. 6 00:00:26,620 --> 00:00:33,720 Steven Webb: Find a position that works for your body today. Sitting, lying down or however you need to be. 7 00:00:35,900 --> 00:00:43,230 Steven Webb: You do not need to make the mind quiet. You do not need to arrive as a better version of 8 00:00:43,230 --> 00:00:46,070 Steven Webb: yourself. Just arrive as you are 9 00:00:47,450 --> 00:00:49,590 Steven Webb: and just become aware of your breath. 10 00:00:51,580 --> 00:00:55,390 Steven Webb: Breathing in calm. Breathing out relax 11 00:01:08,230 --> 00:01:15,940 Steven Webb: And just while you're settling in and relaxing, remember that your body knows how to breathe and Your body knows 12 00:01:15,940 --> 00:01:23,890 Steven Webb: how to relax. We're just allowing these things to happen. Let's have a little Dharma talk, I guess. So in 13 00:01:23,890 --> 00:01:31,340 Steven Webb: Zen practice, there's a very ordinary kind of wisdom. Not a wisdom that floats above life. Not a wisdom that 14 00:01:31,340 --> 00:01:38,810 Steven Webb: escapes the body. A wisdom that sits still long enough to just see clearly. A 15 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:46,760 Steven Webb: thought appears. A feeling appears. A pain appears. A memory appears. Even a worry appears. 16 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:47,640 Steven Webb: And 17 00:01:48,890 --> 00:01:56,720 Steven Webb: the habit is often to do something with it immediately. Follow it, argue with it, fix it, explain it, turn 18 00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:00,920 Steven Webb: it into some story, turn it into a problem. But 19 00:02:01,950 --> 00:02:05,270 Steven Webb: not everything that arises needs our immediate attention. 20 00:02:06,140 --> 00:02:09,500 Steven Webb: Sometimes a thought is just a thought. You 21 00:02:10,690 --> 00:02:16,480 Steven Webb: have thoughts but you're not those thoughts. Sometimes a feeling is just a feeling. You 22 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:19,260 Steven Webb: have feelings being not those feelings. 23 00:02:20,590 --> 00:02:24,690 Steven Webb: Sometimes a sensation in the body is simply asking to be noticed. 24 00:02:25,540 --> 00:02:29,450 Steven Webb: You have sensations, but you're not those sensations. 25 00:02:31,050 --> 00:02:36,050 Steven Webb: And sometimes if we give it space, we realise it is not the whole truth. 26 00:02:36,930 --> 00:02:40,850 Steven Webb: It is just something passing through that we don't need to do anything with. 27 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:49,920 Steven Webb: And space matters because without space, everything feels... Every thought feels true. 28 00:02:50,950 --> 00:02:56,300 Steven Webb: Every feeling feels urgent. Every body sensation feels like a command. 29 00:02:58,100 --> 00:03:00,670 Steven Webb: But when there's space, we 30 00:03:01,610 --> 00:03:09,590 Steven Webb: can begin to see this is a thought. This is a story. This is a fear. This is 31 00:03:09,590 --> 00:03:12,030 Steven Webb: a pain. This is a memory. This 32 00:03:13,150 --> 00:03:16,330 Steven Webb: is the body asking for care. And the list goes on. 33 00:03:18,150 --> 00:03:22,070 Steven Webb: If your mind is anything like me, the list is literally endless. 34 00:03:24,150 --> 00:03:27,550 Steven Webb: This is just something that's arising in any given moment. 35 00:03:28,870 --> 00:03:32,910 Steven Webb: And seeing clearly is already the kind of peace we need. 36 00:03:34,690 --> 00:03:42,350 Steven Webb: So today we're not trying to get rid of anything. We are practicing space. Space in the head, 37 00:03:42,350 --> 00:03:50,290 Steven Webb: space in the body, space around the feelings, space to be who we are without needing to manage 38 00:03:50,290 --> 00:03:51,870 Steven Webb: every part for ourselves. 39 00:03:54,170 --> 00:04:00,010 Steven Webb: That intro kind of needed to be there to set the ground of where we are. So 40 00:04:00,850 --> 00:04:01,450 Steven Webb: let's begin. 41 00:04:05,230 --> 00:04:11,620 Steven Webb: So as we bring our awareness back to our bodies, Just breathing in calm. Breathing out relax 42 00:04:14,180 --> 00:04:17,450 Steven Webb: And you may notice the points of contact. There 43 00:04:18,630 --> 00:04:26,110 Steven Webb: may be a weight or a temperature. The places that feel comfortable and the places that feel a little more 44 00:04:26,110 --> 00:04:30,870 Steven Webb: tense or sore. Maybe restless or numb. No 45 00:04:32,150 --> 00:04:36,980 Steven Webb: need to solve any of the body right now. Just notice the body as it is. 46 00:04:39,280 --> 00:04:42,410 Steven Webb: And now just imagine you're sitting inside of a shed. 47 00:04:45,070 --> 00:04:50,570 Steven Webb: A comfortable shed. A quiet shed. It is your Space 48 00:04:53,110 --> 00:04:59,270 Steven Webb: You are sitting there, maybe on a chair, maybe on a little bench. Maybe 49 00:05:00,260 --> 00:05:01,440 Steven Webb: you have a blanket with You 50 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:10,200 Steven Webb: But the windows are closed and the door is closed. There is not much room for anything to move. 51 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:15,620 Steven Webb: You're surrounded by the things that keep you comfortable and 52 00:05:16,810 --> 00:05:18,130 Steven Webb: nothing to worry about in this shed. 53 00:05:19,310 --> 00:05:20,650 Steven Webb: It's your shed. 54 00:05:26,450 --> 00:05:34,250 Steven Webb: Now imagine a thought appears in the shed It may be a worry or a memory or a plan, a 55 00:05:34,250 --> 00:05:35,310 Steven Webb: judgement of yourself. 56 00:05:41,930 --> 00:05:46,990 Steven Webb: And notice what happens when the thought appears in a closed space 57 00:05:52,150 --> 00:05:54,570 Steven Webb: and Does it feel loud? Does 58 00:05:55,790 --> 00:05:57,730 Steven Webb: it feel close? Does 59 00:05:58,850 --> 00:06:00,470 Steven Webb: it feel like you need to deal with it 60 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:04,840 Steven Webb: you need to change it, just notice it. 61 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:13,830 Steven Webb: Now imagine a feeling that appears in this shed. 62 00:06:15,270 --> 00:06:20,970 Steven Webb: Whether it's a sadness or a frustration. Maybe a fear or a tenderness. Maybe 63 00:06:22,350 --> 00:06:23,930 Steven Webb: something you cannot quite name. 64 00:06:26,410 --> 00:06:32,290 Steven Webb: And you may feel slightly uncomfortable with this. And it's okay, we're going to open up in a moment. 65 00:06:34,550 --> 00:06:37,210 Steven Webb: But does it feel like there's a pressure? 66 00:06:42,770 --> 00:06:45,290 Steven Webb: Does it feel like it fills the whole space? 67 00:06:48,530 --> 00:06:51,110 Steven Webb: Does it feel more like you and 68 00:06:52,230 --> 00:06:53,310 Steven Webb: you're crammed in here? 69 00:06:54,660 --> 00:06:58,980 Steven Webb: Again, no judgement. The shed is not wrong. It's just small 70 00:07:05,060 --> 00:07:05,670 Steven Webb: as your shed. 71 00:07:08,070 --> 00:07:15,950 Steven Webb: And sometimes our mind feels like this. Sometimes our bodies feel like this. A closed space where every thought 72 00:07:15,950 --> 00:07:21,230 Steven Webb: and feeling has to sit right inside of us. Right beside us with nowhere to go. 73 00:07:27,330 --> 00:07:30,450 Steven Webb: Now gently imagining opening the door. 74 00:07:31,290 --> 00:07:35,350 Steven Webb: Let some light come in, maybe some air come in. And 75 00:07:36,380 --> 00:07:41,960 Steven Webb: imagine yourself stepping out of the shed. Slowly and gently, no rush. And 76 00:07:43,250 --> 00:07:50,870 Steven Webb: now you're outside. Imagine you're in an open field or an open space. It could be a meadow. The wide 77 00:07:50,870 --> 00:07:52,250 Steven Webb: sky, the fresh air. 78 00:07:53,210 --> 00:07:59,270 Steven Webb: Loads of space and room in every direction. You can even stretch your arms out if you wanted to. And 79 00:08:00,750 --> 00:08:05,130 Steven Webb: there's a bench there that you can simply sit on if you choose to. 80 00:08:09,050 --> 00:08:13,630 Steven Webb: And now let the same thought arise, if you remember it, or another thought. 81 00:08:16,110 --> 00:08:22,810 Steven Webb: And this time just feel the difference between how it feels when it arises from all this space. 82 00:08:25,090 --> 00:08:26,690 Steven Webb: Do you notice the difference? 83 00:08:32,450 --> 00:08:34,130 Steven Webb: The thought. is still there, 84 00:08:36,690 --> 00:08:43,010 Steven Webb: But there is sky around it. There's air around it. There's a distance. There's a space that makes you feel 85 00:08:43,010 --> 00:08:45,270 Steven Webb: like you don't have to immediately deal with it. 86 00:08:51,970 --> 00:08:55,480 Steven Webb: You may be able to see it more clearly. There's 87 00:08:56,830 --> 00:08:58,690 Steven Webb: a distance between you and the thought. 88 00:09:03,330 --> 00:09:05,230 Steven Webb: I'm here and I can see the thought. 89 00:09:07,390 --> 00:09:10,000 Steven Webb: I'm here and I can be aware of the thought. 90 00:09:12,820 --> 00:09:15,790 Steven Webb: And let it just go on like maybe a cloud. 91 00:09:18,380 --> 00:09:23,530 Steven Webb: No need to push it away, it just has room to disappear by itself. 92 00:09:31,490 --> 00:09:35,830 Steven Webb: And now imagine a feeling arising in this open space. It's 93 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:42,340 Steven Webb: almost so much easier to deal with a feeling sat on a bench in open field than it is sat 94 00:09:42,340 --> 00:09:44,810 Steven Webb: in a Tightly crammed shed. 95 00:09:48,550 --> 00:09:51,650 Steven Webb: The space for some wisdom to step in. 96 00:09:53,670 --> 00:09:57,090 Steven Webb: Space for us to be able to go, ah, that's what I'm feeling. 97 00:10:03,450 --> 00:10:05,600 Steven Webb: Space to be able to wisely deal with it. 98 00:10:11,530 --> 00:10:17,390 Steven Webb: Is it a thought? Is it a story? Is it a feeling? Is it a fear? 99 00:10:18,260 --> 00:10:21,780 Steven Webb: Almost like as if there's room for it. 100 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:27,280 Steven Webb: Just like when we give a friend space, we 101 00:10:28,470 --> 00:10:35,690 Steven Webb: can see their feelings clearly. Giving ourselves space. We can see our feelings and thoughts. A lot more clearly. 102 00:10:42,270 --> 00:10:50,070 Steven Webb: And just briefly imagine being back in that shed now with those same thoughts. And that 103 00:10:50,070 --> 00:10:52,790 Steven Webb: shed could mean a busy household 104 00:10:53,850 --> 00:10:57,450 Steven Webb: or a place at work where you don't really have much room to think. 105 00:11:01,250 --> 00:11:07,170 Steven Webb: And then imagine being in those places with more room or space. And 106 00:11:08,490 --> 00:11:16,190 Steven Webb: of course, when we're talking about space, we're talking about time space as well. That space after the thought 107 00:11:16,190 --> 00:11:18,700 Steven Webb: when we become aware. 108 00:11:23,220 --> 00:11:30,420 Steven Webb: Sometimes we feel these thoughts and feelings fill up all of the space we have, all the feelings we have. 109 00:11:30,420 --> 00:11:35,420 Steven Webb: There's no room for wisdom. There's no room for genuine thoughts. 110 00:11:37,300 --> 00:11:41,190 Steven Webb: There's no room for caring and loving and openness. 111 00:11:49,310 --> 00:11:56,850 Steven Webb: And I'm going to quietly offer these words and they may feel useful. May there be space for you. 112 00:12:01,940 --> 00:12:04,200 Steven Webb: May there be space for me. 113 00:12:10,030 --> 00:12:12,610 Steven Webb: May we see clearly what is arising. 114 00:12:16,060 --> 00:12:19,700 Steven Webb: May we trust the wisdom that comes with space. 115 00:12:26,450 --> 00:12:31,890 Steven Webb: Now let the image gently fade and no need to hold on to the shed or no need to hold 116 00:12:31,890 --> 00:12:32,690 Steven Webb: on to the field. 117 00:12:34,590 --> 00:12:35,810 Steven Webb: They're just feelings. 118 00:12:38,300 --> 00:12:45,680 Steven Webb: Space does not mean distance from life. Space means just enough room to see things clearly. That gap at the 119 00:12:45,680 --> 00:12:49,390 Steven Webb: end of the sentence. That space between the next thought. 120 00:12:51,350 --> 00:12:59,180 Steven Webb: Enough room to know what the thought was. What the story is. What the feeling is. 121 00:13:02,130 --> 00:13:08,310 Steven Webb: So I'm going to count back from five. So five, feeling your body, what it is right now. 122 00:13:09,260 --> 00:13:11,860 Steven Webb: Four, noticing the room around you. Three, 123 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:20,500 Steven Webb: taking a slightly deeper breath. Two, moving your fingers and your hands and your toes. And number one, just 124 00:13:20,500 --> 00:13:27,280 Steven Webb: opening your eyes and if they were closed. And thank you for sitting with me today. Thank you for creating 125 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:33,590 Steven Webb: space in your life for wisdom to be there when you need it. Thank you for your support on Inner 126 00:13:33,590 --> 00:13:41,320 Steven Webb: Peace Meditations and thank you to all the supporters that support this podcast. You can find out more about how 127 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:48,460 Steven Webb: you can support or the other podcast by going to StevenWebb.uk. Take care and thank you.