In this meditation, I reflect on how meditation can support us during periods of anxiety, stress and emotional overwhelm.
Very often, when anxiety enters our lives, the first things we let go of are the practices that help to steady and ground us. This meditation gently reminds us that these difficult moments are precisely when contemplative practice becomes most important.
Together, we begin by simply noticing how anxiety manifests within the body — perhaps in the stomach, chest, shoulders, jaw or breath itself. Without judgement or resistance, we learn to meet these sensations with gentleness, awareness and compassion.
As the meditation deepens, we use the breath as an anchor, gradually allowing the body to soften and the breath to settle naturally into a calmer rhythm. We then move towards the still point at the centre of the breath cycle — the place of silence, peace and spaciousness that always remains available beneath anxiety and worry.
This practice is not about suppressing anxiety, but about learning to remain present, grounded and connected to peace even while difficult emotions are present.
This meditation offers support for anxiety, stress relief, emotional grounding and contemplative stillness.
Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction: Meditation during anxiety
00:43 – Opening bell
00:51 – Why practice matters most during stress
01:48 – Grounding in the body and noticing anxiety
03:08 – Meeting anxious areas with gentleness
04:12 – Observing the breath during anxiety
05:35 – Using the breath as an anchor
07:13 – Resting in the still point of the breath
08:20 – Expanding inner silence and peace
09:19 – Divine love and the present moment
10:35 – Bringing calm into the rest of the day
11:47 – Closing bell