Welcome to this guided meditation on embracing the subtle aliveness within.
Take a moment to settle into a comfortable position and close your eyes.
Allow yourself to be fully present in this moment.
Quite often in our daily lives,
We find ourselves chasing stimulation in various forms.
We may inadvertently create drama in relationships,
Seek sensory overload through excessively loud music,
Or indulge in substances,
Television,
Video games,
Or the constant hum of the internet.
We chase these thrills because in the absence of this chaos,
It can feel as if there's a void,
An unease that we're trying to escape from.
It's as if we can't feel truly alive unless something exciting or intense is happening.
But the truth is,
We are alive,
Always.
There's a subtle aliveness that exists within us,
One that we often overlook in our search for something external.
This aliveness doesn't need chaos,
Excitement,
Or stimulation.
It's always there,
Waiting for us to notice it.
Today we are going to tune into this aliveness,
Into the natural energy that exists within your body,
Simply through the breath.
Now let's bring your attention to the breath.
Take a slow,
Deep inhale in,
And gently exhale out.
Again,
Take a long,
Slow inhale,
And then exhale out.
Feel the breath move in and out of your body.
Feel the air as it enters through your nose,
And notice the sensation as it leaves your body.
Allow your breath to settle into its natural rhythm.
There's no need to force or control it.
Simply observe it.
With each breath,
You may begin to notice a slight sensation,
A subtle energy within.
Perhaps you can feel it in your chest as your lungs expand and contract.
Perhaps you feel it in your belly as it rises and falls.
That subtle aliveness is always there,
A constant reminder that you are here,
In this moment,
Alive.
And you can tune into this anytime and anywhere by simply observing the breath,
Realizing this aliveness is always within you.
Now let's go a little deeper and bring our awareness to the body,
Starting with the head.
Take a breath in,
And as you exhale,
Bring your attention to your head.
Notice any sensations in your scalp,
Your forehead,
Your eyes,
And your jaw.
Perhaps you feel tension,
Or maybe there's a sense of stillness.
Whatever you notice,
Simply observe it.
Allow yourself to feel the aliveness that exists in this space.
Now move your attention down to your neck,
Your shoulders,
And your arms.
Feel the energy that exists there.
There's no need for movement.
Simply breathe in and out.
Tune into that subtle aliveness.
It may feel gentle,
Like a hum of energy,
Or you may feel warmth and tingling.
Whatever you experience,
Let it be.
Bring your awareness to your hands and notice the sensations there.
Feel the aliveness in your fingers,
In the palms of your hands.
Now shift your focus to your chest,
Your stomach,
And your torso.
With each breath,
Feel the rise and fall,
The gentle movement of life within.
The aliveness here may feel quiet,
But it is constant,
Just like the beating of our heart.
Now move down to your legs and feet.
Feel the weight of your body being supported by the ground,
But also tune into the aliveness that exists within your legs,
Your feet,
Your toes.
Take one more deep breath in and exhale slowly.
Always know that you are alive.
You are alive right here and right now.
There is a subtle energy,
A quiet but constant aliveness within you.
It is not dependent on external stimulation or chaos.
It's always present,
Simply waiting for you to connect with it.
Now when you're ready,
I invite you to gently open your eyes.
As you do this,
Keep your focus on your breath.
Take another deep breath in and exhale slowly.
Continue paying attention to your breath as you look around the room.
Try to maintain your awareness of the aliveness that is going on within your body.
Notice the way your chest continues to rise and fall with each breath.
Notice the subtle energy in your fingers,
The warmth in your legs and feet,
And throughout your entire body.
By practicing this awareness with your eyes open,
You are bringing the experience of your inner aliveness into your waking state.
It's a reminder that this aliveness is with you always,
Whether your eyes are closed in meditation or open to the world around you.
You don't need external stimulation to feel alive.
The energy within you is enough.
It is always with you,
Waiting for you to notice.
Take one more deep breath in and now slowly exhale.
As we conclude this meditation,
I encourage you to return to this practice at least once a day for the next several days.
Use this meditation as a reminder that you can carry this with you wherever you want by simply returning to your breath and feeling this aliveness within you,
Knowing that this life force is always with you,
Always here in the present moment,
Knowing the present moment is all that we have.
