Take a few minutes to get comfortable and to begin to relax . . . let yourself shift or move to become more comfortable . . . take a few deep, full breaths and let them go, letting the out-breath be a real "letting go" kind of breath . . . just let go on each out-breath and begin to relax, easily and comfortably . . . with no effort . . . just letting yourself begin to focus inside . . . beginning to pay attention to your inner world . . . and just let the outer world take care of itself for now . . . and as you relax a little more deeply, consider how much you have already learned that can help you in caring for others . . . and acknowledge that you can make use of what is most helpful at the time . . . and that you, too, deserve good care even as you care for others . . .

Notice your feet and legs and invite any tension which doesn't need to be there to soften and release . . . simply allow the legs to relax more comfortably in their own way . . . and invite them to continue to relax as you invite the rest of the body to release and relax and go deeper . . . notice your pelvis, hips, and low back and invite that area of the body to soften and relax more deeply in its own way . . . and your abdomen . . . and all the organs inside the abdomen . . . releasing and relaxing more deeply and comfortably . . . letting yourself enjoy this process of letting go and becoming more deeply relaxed and comfortable . . . notice your chest and rib cage and invite it to release and relax more deeply . . . and your shoulders . . . and neck muscles . . . the back, front, and sides of the neck . . . feel free to move or shift to become even more comfortable . . . release the back . . . and all the muscles up and down along the spine and out across the back from the neck to the tailbone . . . and the muscles between the shoulder blades . . . imagine a pleasant, deep relaxation flowing down the arms, through the elbows . . . forearms . . . wrists . . . hands . . . to the tips of the fingers . . . and thumbs . . . gently, easily, comfortably . . . invite the scalp and forehead to become soft and at ease . . . and the muscles of the face . . . soft and at ease . . . the jaw muscles relaxing . . . the little muscles around the eyes can soften . . . even the tongue can puddle and relax in the mouth . . . and simply enjoy this peaceful, relaxed state for a few moments . . . .

As you enjoy this relaxation, recall a specific time when you experienced yourself giving loving care to someone . . . when you experienced love and care, even healing in your care . . . let it be a specific time you remember when you felt there was healing and love in your care . . . imagine that you are there again now . . . and notice the details . . . notice where you are . . . and who you are with . . . notice what you are seeing . . . what you are hearing . . . notice any smell or aroma that is there . . . and any feelings you have . . . notice what you are doing . . . and your body posture . . . your face . . . and your voice . . . as you deliver this care in an especially caring, loving, even healing way . . . .