 This meditation explores some of them, for the purpose of this exercise we will define strength as having two primary aspects, energy and determination. So what I'd like you to do now is take a deep breath and come into yourself. Assume a comfortable position sitting in your chair, you may choose to close your eyes or keep your eyes open as it feels comfortable for you. Bring your attention to your belly, feeling it rise or expand gently on the in-breath and fall or recede on the out-breath. Keep the focus on your breathing, keep the focus on your breath, being with each breath both on the inhale for its full duration and on the exhale as if you are riding the waves of your own breathing. Now every time you notice that your mind has wandered off the breath notice what it was that took you away and then gently bring your attention back to your belly and the feeling of the breath coming in and out. Be aware of thoughts passing through your mind without any need to engage or judge them. Feel the strength in your awareness always clear and everlasting no matter what passes through it. Now since the vitality in your body notice how your breathing has a strength of its own sense every muscle sense your capacity to move in any direction sense the animal strength in your body. I'd like you to take a deep breath and recall a time when you felt really strong this may have been at work maybe in a personal situation maybe you were completely alone but you just felt strong. Now imagine that situation as intensely as you can bring to mind the sense of your strength you experienced. Strength in your breathing energy in your arms and legs that same strength is beating today in your powerful heart whatever you feel is fine continue to be open to the sense that you are strong clear and determined notice how it feels good to feel strong let true strength sink into your being and if you'd like you can recall additional times right now that you felt strong and let that soak in to your very being now continuing to feel strong bring to mind a person or group of people who support you maybe these people are at work maybe they are family friends maybe there are people online that you feel a special connection to make this as real as possible now imagine this person's face the sound of his or her voice let yourself feel supported because you deserve it let yourself feel valued and let yourself feel believed in sense how this feeling of support increases your sense of strength notice how it feels good to feel strong and now let that strength sink into your very being let every neuron every muscle and every breath soak in that strength into your body and mind and at this time notice other feelings coming up to perhaps even opposite ones like weakness or stress whatever is arising is fine just notice it let it be and let it go through the exhale now turn your attention back to your sense of being strong finally abiding in a sense of strength bring to awareness a challenging situation recall that situation this may have been a time at work where you just couldn't do it this could have been a mental health issue a personal struggle or a family struggle now solid in your strength feel spaciousness around that difficult condition allow it to be what it is while you continue to feel strong and centered be strong with no need to grasp or struggle in any way any problems are flowing through awareness like clouds across the sky be spacious relaxed and easy feel the strength in your breathing in your awareness in your clarity of mind in the wholeness of your body and in your good intentions let that soak in remember that any challenging situation and any problem that now flows through your awareness after the meditation you will be able to conquer with true strength now as you go through your day pay attention to the sense of feeling strong because that's exactly what you are notice how it feels good to feel strong and let strength sink into your very being and let it stay there now at this moment if your eyes were closed you may open your eyes now and you can be strong throughout the rest of the day because that exactly is what you are you are strong and you deserve to feel good stay strong keep being you