Reflection

As we begin this new year, it can be helpful to reflect on positive feelings and experiences from the past.

I recently came across a beautiful image suggested by Peggy Huddleston. She invites us to imagine a time in our life when we felt comforted and loved by someone whom we found easy to love. It can be a person or a pet.

I would like to invite you to relax, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and imagine this for yourself. Having conjured this image, notice how your body feels. Close your eyes again for a moment, breathe deeply. As you imagine this person or pet notice in your body where you feel more relaxed and less constricted. Allow the feelings of being loved and cared for well up inside you. Try to get in touch once again with the warmth and comfort you remember from being loved and easily loving in response. Remembering these feelings is strengthening to us as it makes us feel connected with a sense of inner happiness even when external factors are troubling.

As we enter this new year this can become a valuable tool to help us when difficult situations arise. We may have a moment of privacy when we can recall this memory. However even in the midst of a chaotic situation when no privacy is available, we can close our eyes, recall this strong memory, and gain access to some of the strength that it evokes. This can help us not feel totally overwhelmed by the negative influences swirling around us.

This practice can help us feel less alone. It is a simple but powerful practice which can be a gift we give ourselves for the new year. I encourage you to use it often so that it becomes a healthy habitual response that assists you when difficulties arise.