Photo by madison lavern on Unsplash
In today’s world, everything around us moves at an incredibly fast pace — technology, work, and the constant stream of information. Many of us are caught in this whirlwind, always rushing, always doing, and rarely stopping to simply be. We become so engrossed in the external world that we lose connection with our inner selves. This disconnection creates stress, anxiety, and a sense of restlessness because we are always trying to keep up with the world, instead of aligning with our own inner rhythm.
To live fully and consciously, it’s essential to be centred — centred in who we are, not just in what we do. When we are centred, we remain calm and stable, even in the midst of chaos. Being centred is not about avoiding the external world, but about knowing how to engage with it from a place of balance and inner peace. It allows us to respond to life, rather than react to it. This is where true strength and clarity come from.
With this understanding in mind, I sought to adapt Edwina Gateley’s prayer, "Let Your God Love You" into "Let Your True Nature Embrace You."
Why this adaptation?
Edwina Gateley’s original poem gently invites us to pause, be still, and open ourselves to the love and compassion of God. It offers a deeply comforting message of being seen, understood, and loved by a divine presence — a feeling that can be incredibly soothing, especially when we’re feeling lost or overwhelmed. In a therapeutic setting, this message can be a powerful reminder that we are all worthy of love and compassion, even when we may not feel it ourselves.
However, I understand that for some, the idea of receiving love from an external God might not fully resonate. You may have had experiences that lead you to distrust external authority or feel disconnected from traditional religious beliefs. If that’s the case, you may need a more universal or internal approach to healing — one that speaks directly to your capacity for self-compassion and the idea that love and understanding can come from within.
This is why I adapted the poem.
Instead of looking outward to an external source of love, I want to help you recognise the boundless compassion and peace that already exist within you. My purpose is to help you cultivate self-compassion, to see your own intrinsic value and your deep connection to the universe.
Let Your True Nature Embrace You
Be silent.
Be still. Not passive, but fully awake.
Come home to yourself.
Empty.
Alive.
Say nothing.
Ask nothing.
Be silent.
Be still. Not passive, but fully awake.
Come home to yourself.
That is all.
You are enough.
You are understood.
You are loved.
By the universe, by life, by yourself —
With boundless compassion.
All you need
Is to sit in that awareness,
Embraced by peace.
Quiet.
Still. Not passive, but fully awake.
Just be.
Let your true nature —
Embrace you.
One of the most beautiful aspects of Edwina Gateley’s original poem is its spaciousness; it feels almost minimalist. I love her simplicity. In some of the verses, I was able to preserve this minimalism, for example by adding “alive” or maintaining her concise style without losing the depth of her lines, such as “Say nothing. Ask nothing.” But in other situations, this simplicity didn’t come to me as easily. For instance, in the verse "Be still. Not passive, but fully awake," the intention is to convey that stillness is not about inactivity or disengagement. It’s not about drifting off or numbing the mind. Instead, true stillness is a dynamic state of awareness — a form of active presence where the mind remains alert, yet calm.
It’s a paradox in a way — though you’re outwardly still, inwardly there is a profound aliveness, a conscious attentiveness that keeps you deeply connected to the present.
When you are truly still, you are deeply engaged with life, experiencing it fully, without letting the noise of your thoughts or emotions cloud your perception. It’s in this stillness that you find clarity and connect with the deeper layers of your being.
Another change I brought to the poem was the line “Come home to yourself.” This phrase is a common concept in various spiritual and meditative traditions, reflecting the universal idea of returning to one’s true nature. For instance, Jiddu Krishnamurti often spoke about self-awareness and the need to move beyond external conditioning to discover one’s inner truth. He once said, “The moment you start to look inward, you are coming home.” This highlights the importance of turning inward to find clarity and authenticity in a world full of distractions.
Similarly, Ramana Maharshi taught that self-realisation comes from turning within and recognising the self, which transcends the ego. He emphasised the inward journey as the highest form of service, as reflected in his statement: “Your own Self-realisation is the greatest service you can render the world.” Through his method of self-inquiry, he guided individuals to explore the deeper layers of their being, showing that true peace and purpose come from within.
Rumi, the beloved Persian poet, also expressed a similar idea, encouraging people to seek love within, rather than in the external world. His wisdom shines through in the line, “You wander from room to room, hunting for the diamond necklace that is already around your neck.” This beautifully illustrates the idea that everything we search for externally — love, joy, and fulfilment — is already within us, waiting to be recognised.
And although Socrates was not a meditator in the traditional sense, the ancient Greek philosopher placed great emphasis on knowing thyself, a concept that aligns closely with the idea of coming home to one’s true self. His famous quote, “The unexamined life is not worth living,” reflects the importance of self-reflection and understanding as the foundation of a meaningful life.
As you can see, the concept of coming home to oneself has been shared and reinterpreted by many spiritual and philosophical figures throughout history, each in their unique way. In this practice, I felt it was essential to include this notion in the poem. It’s undeniable — encouraging the inward journey to self-awareness and peace is central to so many paths of personal growth and healing.
Instructions and advice about the practice
Receiving the Practice
There’s no need to force anything in this process. Simply sit, close your eyes, and let your body and mind be receptive. Contemplation isn’t something you have to actively “do” or achieve. Instead, it’s about letting go. It’s about allowing the deeper parts of yourself to open up and receive what is already present: the peace, the stillness, the experience of coming home to yourself.
In time, if you continue this practice, you will notice that the changes you once sought begin to emerge naturally. Your mind will be calmer. Your reactions will be less driven by immediate emotion. Your understanding of life, yourself, and others will deepen. All of this comes not from straining or effort, but from the simple act of being present, of repeating the practice, of opening yourself to stillness again and again
The Role of Time
The way time unfolds in contemplation is different from our usual experience of it. In our busy lives, a minute can feel like a fleeting moment — barely enough to be noticed. But in contemplation, even a single minute can hold profound depth. One minute of stillness, with no thoughts to distract, no worries to pull you away, can feel expansive. It becomes an eternity unto itself, a moment where you connect with a deeper sense of being — something far beyond the everyday.
In this practice, time is flexible. You may choose to contemplate one sentence for 20 seconds, for a full minute, or even longer, allowing space to exist between the words. There is no rush. Each pause, each silence, can deepen your experience of the moment, opening up new layers of clarity.
If you prefer to be guided by a voice rather than reading the poem, simply close your eyes, relax your body, and allow your mind to receive. In that case, you can listen to my audio recording — please find the link below on YouTube.
A Partner in Contemplation
If you are fortunate enough to have a partner to read these words to you, forget my recording and allow their voice to be a gentle guide into that space of stillness. This is not a task to be hurried through. In fact, I think it’s a beautiful activity to do together. The shared act of contemplation creates a unique connection, allowing both of you to experience a sense of calm and presence as you move through the words.
A Final Thought
If all you have is one minute, then let that minute be enough. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and allow your mind to settle. In that one minute, let go of any thoughts that arise, and simply be. The power of contemplation doesn’t come only from the length of time but also from the quality of your presence in that time. Whether you sit for one minute or for an hour, it is the repeated act of returning to stillness, over and over again, that will create profound change in your life.
Contemplation is like planting a seed. With each repetition, with each moment of stillness, that seed is watered. Over time, with consistent care, it will grow into something beautiful.