A Space for Self-Gentleness
If you’re struggling with chronic illness, pain, fatigue, digestion issues, depression, or anxiety, I know how overwhelming it can feel. When symptoms dominate your life, it’s easy to feel lost — to feel like your body is working against you, that you have no control, that rest doesn’t truly restore you. The mind can race with fear, the body can remain tense even in stillness, and exhaustion can feel endless. But healing is not about forcing change—it’s about allowing space for self-gentleness, for small shifts, for moments of ease.
A Simple Exercise for Comfort
My approach to Mind, Body, Spirit Healing is about reconnecting with yourself as a whole. We address the physical, but we’ll also explore the emotional and spiritual roots of what you’re feeling. That’s what this practice is. A single moment of comfort, a pause in the overwhelm. You don’t have to change everything today — just take this one moment for you.
Here below is a simple exercise, that I hope will help you feel a little lighter today.
Here’s what to do:
- Close your eyes and place your hands gently on your heart.
- Take a breath in through your nose and slowly exhale through your mouth, as if you’re sighing out the tension. Do this three times. Doesn’t have to be a very deep breath.
- Imagine breathing a soft light into that place in your chest, like a warm glow. Let it expand gently as you exhale.
This exercise doesn’t solve everything, but it’s a start — a moment of calm in the storm.
Why This Practice Helps Regulate the Nervous System
When your nervous system is dysregulated, it can feel impossible to truly relax. Even when you lie down, your system may still be in fight-or-flight or freeze. This is why traditional rest often doesn’t feel refreshing — it’s not just about stopping activity; it’s about helping your system feel safe enough to let go.
By placing your hands on your heart, you’re offering your system a cue of safety — a soft, grounding touch that signals to your brain that you are here, that you are present. Pairing this with a gentle breath in and then out helps shift your autonomic nervous system (ANS) into a more regulated state, supporting your ability to self-soothe and recover over time.
Touch has always been one of the most powerful ways to signal safety. In moments of distress, we instinctively reach for comfort — whether from another person or from a soft blanket, or a pet or even a soft toy. When you place your hand on your heart, you are giving yourself this same signal of comfort. In time, this small act of self-kindness can help rewire your system towards trust and ease.
Healing is Found in the Smallest Moments
You don’t need to do this perfectly. Even if it only brings 1% more ease into your day, that is enough. Healing isn’t a single breakthrough — it’s a series of moments where you choose to meet yourself with kindness. Every time you pause, breathe, and offer yourself compassion, you are shifting something deep within your nervous system.
Try returning to this practice for just a few moments each day. Even if it feels unfamiliar at first, repetition is what allows your nervous system to begin recognising safety as a natural state. Over time, what feels difficult now may become a quiet refuge — a space you can return to whenever you need comfort.
You deserve to feel peace in your life.
If this moment of ease felt supportive, you might enjoy one of my guided meditations designed to gently settle the nervous system. You can listen to one here (click below). Or, if today you only have space for this one breath, that is enough. 💗
Well done for being here today. Give yourself the message of worthiness. 💗
If you’re ready to explore more, I have a collection of free resources designed to support you in this journey. Healing is possible — one step at a time.
