Julie Jewels Smoot

There is a quiet belief many of us carry without realizing it. "I'll begin when I'm calmer." "I'll meditate when my thoughts settle down." "I'll rest after I finish everything." "I'll take care of myself when I have more time." The list continues, always placing well-being somewhere in the future. Trauma-informed gong listening offers another possibility. What if you began exactly where you are? Not after your anxiety disappears. Not after your schedule becomes lighter. Not a

You do not need to quiet your mind. You do not need to breathe a certain way. You do not need to relax, let go, or have a profound experience. You simply need to arrive exactly as you are. That is the heart of trauma-informed gong listening.

Create a serene and inviting space for self-exploration with "Returning Home to Yourself," a guided meditation for therapists and helping professionals. Embrace inner peace and reflection amidst calming candles, soothing textiles, and mindful prompts.

A serene setup invites therapists and helping professionals to reflect on the day's accomplishments, with notes of gratitude and encouragement to rest and trust in the work they've done. A guided meditation promises a peaceful transition to tomorrow, with elements like a singing bowl, calming candles, and mindful reminders emphasizing self-care and acceptance.

Cultivate inner peace with "Leaving with an Open Heart: Closing the Day with Compassion," a guided meditation for therapists and helping professionals, emphasizing self-care and mindfulness.

A calming setup designed for therapists and helping professionals, featuring a guided meditation titled "The Stories Stay Here: Letting the Session End," surrounded by wellness tools like a singing bowl, a candle, and affirmations encouraging self-care and detachment after sessions.

Create a calming space with "Permission to Pause: Rest Is Part of the Work." This guided meditation is designed for therapists and helping professionals, emphasizing the importance of rest in self-care. Surround yourself with comforting items like a meditation bowl, soothing candles, and affirming reminders that you deserve rest and renewal.

Another will soon begin. Before you move forward, allow yourself a few quiet moments to pause. There is no need to rush into the next conversation. There is no expectation that you immediately set aside everything you have just witnessed. Instead, simply notice where you are. Feel your feet resting on the floor.

Before the first client arrives… Before the first story is shared… Before the first emotion enters the room… Take a moment for yourself. Find a position that feels comfortable. Allow your feet to rest upon the floor. Notice the support beneath your body. Allow yourself to arrive, just as you are today.

Find a position that feels comfortable and supportive. Whether you are seated or lying down, allow your body to settle into this moment. There is nothing you need to accomplish. Nothing you need to fix. Nothing you need to prove. This is simply an invitation to reconnect with the light that already lives within you.

Allow your breath to become slow and effortless. Notice the gentle rise and fall of your chest. Feel the support beneath your body. The earth is holding you. You do not need to hold yourself up alone. Allow your shoulders to soften. Relax your jaw.

Simply allow yourself to arrive. If it feels comfortable, gently close your eyes. Or soften your gaze. Take a slow breath in... And gently breathe out. Again... Breathing in... Breathing out... Allow your breathing to become slow and effortless.

Take a moment to settle into a position that feels comfortable for your body. Whether you choose to sit quietly or lie down, allow yourself to be supported. There is nothing you need to accomplish. Nothing you need to prove. This is your time. If it feels comfortable, gently close your eyes.

Find a place where your body feels supported and at ease. You may choose to sit quietly with your spine comfortably aligned... Or lie down and allow yourself to be fully held by the surface beneath you. There is nothing you need to achieve during this meditation. There is nowhere you need to arrive. Simply allow yourself to become present. If it feels comfortable, gently close your eyes. Or soften your gaze. Take a slow breath in... And slowly breathe out.

Allow your breath to become effortless. Notice the gentle rhythm of your body. Feel the support beneath you. The earth is holding you. You do not need to carry everything alone. With each exhale... Allow your shoulders to soften. Allow your jaw to relax. Allow your hands to rest easily.

Lie comfortably upon a mat... Or simply find a position that allows your body to relax while remaining present. There is nowhere you need to go. Nothing you need to accomplish. Only this moment. If it feels comfortable, gently close your eyes. Or allow your gaze to soften. Take a slow breath in...

No amount of self-care can fully compensate for living in a place where my boundaries are routinely ignored. As someone living with Complex PTSD, trauma is not simply a memory of what happened years ago. Trauma also lives in my body. My nervous system is constantly evaluating whether the present moment is safe or unsafe. Every interaction either reinforces safety or reminds my body to stay on alert.

Take a moment to settle into a position that feels comfortable for your body. Allow yourself to arrive without rushing. There is nowhere else you need to be. Nothing you need to accomplish. Nothing you need to become. Simply arriving is enough. As the first gentle tones of the Venus Gong begin to resonate, notice how the sound gently fills the space around you.

As the soothing vibrations continue, consider the word softness. Many people have been taught that softness means weakness. That kindness means giving too much. That gentleness leaves us vulnerable. Today, let those ideas drift away like clouds moving across an open sky. Softness is not weakness. A flower bends with the wind instead of breaking.

There is no need to reach for it. No need to follow it. Simply receive. Take a slow, comfortable breath. Notice the air entering your body. Notice it leaving again. Your breath has always known its rhythm. Today, allow yourself to trust it.