Gratitude And Purpose: Peace In Body And Mind

We all have busy lives.

We've almost been programmed to need to feel busy.

Sitting in the quiet can feel foreign,

Almost uncomfortable.

We look to fill every moment with something to do,

Something to think.

We feel lazy or like we're wasting time if we are still.

But if we don't rest,

Burnout is inevitable.

Think about the times when you were the most creative,

When the best ideas came to you,

When you were really productive.

They likely came in moments of quiet,

Times when you were still or when you felt really rested.

It's in these quiet moments that clarity can come through.

So today let's find quiet,

Find stillness.

And in that we are going to connect with the parts of us that we neglect or forget about.

Because every inch of us has a purpose.

So it's time to remember your value,

Your worth.

And to remember that relaxing isn't a negative trait.

It's essential to being your best and to understanding that all of the parts of you help you with your purpose.

So breathe in deeply and let that go.

Settle in and find comfort.

Find a comfortable position because putting comfort first is the first step.

Taking time to care for you.

Now let's settle into this moment and let go.

Breathe in slowly into your belly,

Really slowing down that breath.

Intentionally breathe in,

Filling up the belly and then gently letting it go.

Place your hand on your belly and just notice the rise and fall as you breathe in and out.

Now expel all of the air out and breathe in to the count of five.

One,

Two,

Three,

Four,

Five.

Hold.

Now exhale through pursed lips like you're blowing out a candle for five.

One,

Two,

Three,

Four,

Five.

Breathing in for six.

One,

Two,

Three,

Four,

Five,

Six.

Hold.

Release.

One,

Two,

Three,

Four,

Five,

Six.

Now breathing in for seven.

One,

Two,

Three,

Four,

Five,

Six,

Seven.

Hold.

Now slowly release for one,

Two,

Three,

Four,

Five,

Six,

Seven.

Now just breathe in through the nose and out through the nose,

Intentionally slowing down that breath.

Getting comfortable in this present moment.

Shifting our awareness now,

Let's bring our attention to the top of our heads.

Focusing on your mind.

Hold gratitude for that beautiful mind of yours and all it does.

All you've accomplished,

How it works,

Every idea that you've had,

Everything that you've created.

All of those wonderful thoughts,

Hold gratitude and silently repeat,

Thank you for all you do and all you continue to do for me.

Now moving down to your eyes,

Holding gratitude for all that you see.

All of the people you love,

Sunrises and sunsets,

Soft rain falling outside of your window,

Colors,

Flowers,

Everything that you get to see,

Hold gratitude and silently repeat,

Thank you for all that you do and all you continue to do for me.

Moving over to your ears,

Hold gratitude for all that you can hear.

The sounds of music,

The melodies of someone singing,

Wind chimes,

The waves crashing in from the ocean,

Laughter,

Everything that you get to hear around you.

Hold gratitude and silently repeat,

Thank you for all you do and all you continue to do for me.

Moving over to your nose,

We don't often think about our nose unless perhaps we're smelling that delicious fresh baked chocolate chip cookie coming out of the oven.

But think about all of the things you get to smell,

The fact that you can breathe in through your nose,

How when you smell something it can ignite a memory of someone you love,

How all of our senses work together to amplify the other.

Hold gratitude for your nose and all it does and silently repeat,

Thank you for all you do and all you continue to do for me.

Now moving down to your mouth,

Holding gratitude for all the delicious things you get to taste,

For all of the lips you've been able to kiss,

For the fact that your mouth also allows you to breathe in fresh air and to smile.

Hold gratitude and silently repeat,

Thank you for all you do and all you continue to do for me.

Moving down to your throat,

Your ability to speak,

To voice everything that you are thinking,

All of your concerns,

All of your joys,

All of the emotions,

To feel heard,

To be able to say I love you.

Hold gratitude and silently repeat,

Thank you for all you do and all you continue to do for me.

Moving to your arms and your hands,

Thinking about all of the things that they help you with,

Lifting up items,

Reaching out and hugging a loved one,

Caressing a child's face,

Wiping a tear away,

Gesturing how you feel,

Feeding yourself,

Feeding others,

Touching soft silk,

All of these things down to our fingertips.

Holding gratitude,

Silently repeat,

Thank you for all you do and all you continue to do for me.

Now moving down to the core of our body,

Our tummy,

Our backs,

All of the things inside of us,

The organs that keep us moving,

Keep us functioning.

Hold gratitude for the power that is within you,

For all of the things that our body does for us,

And silently repeat,

Thank you for all you do and all you continue to do for me.

Moving down to your legs and your feet,

That strengthen your legs to keep moving forward every step that you've been able to take.

Every hill you climb,

Jumping,

Dancing,

The feeling that we get when we step on warm sand or when we dip our feet into cool water.

Every single sensation and movement that our body experiences through our legs and our feet,

Hold gratitude and silently repeat,

Thank you for all you do and all you continue to do for me.

I now rest your awareness on your heart,

That beat of your heart,

That consistent flow that is keeping everything in you alive.

That feeling in your heart that allows you to love,

That guides you,

Hold gratitude and silently repeat,

Thank you for all you do and all you continue to do for me.

Now with your whole body in mind,

The beat of your heart,

Your mind,

Every aspect of you,

Really connect with it and your breath.

Breathe into your entire body,

Feeling the energy coursing through you,

Buzzing alive.

Recognizing now,

All your body does for you,

And it does so without question.

It automatically shows up for you.

It keeps moving,

Healing,

Pushing,

Pulling,

Operating,

All without question,

Day and night.

It does so to help you move forward,

To help you live this one beautiful life.

So right now,

With the gratitude you have for your body and your mind and your heart and all it does,

What are you going to do to thank it?

How are you going to show it kindness?

Do you need to nourish it in a different way?

Do you need to try something new,

Take more time for yourself?

What can you do to fill it up and show it the love that it gives you every second of every day?

We have one body,

One life.

In what ways can you replenish yourself?

Sometimes it can be just as simple as slowing down and finding stillness and recharging.

So just for this moment,

Be here in this glorious body.

Breathe in and out.

Take long,

Slow,

Intentional breaths,

Breathing in through the nose and allowing that breath to flow all the way down through your body to your toes and then release all the way up and out.

Connecting with every part of you as we embrace the stillness.

Don't fight it.

Just allow yourself to be here and if your mind wanders,

Just gently come back,

Knowing that you need to be here to give your body and your mind the love it deserves to be in this present moment.

So let's sit and just be for this brief moment in time.

Taking a deep breath in and gently letting it go,

Silently repeat,

I am here.

I am grateful.

I am here.

I am grateful.

I am here and I am grateful.

Remember that all parts of you are helping you to find your purpose,

To helping you achieve every goal,

To meet new people,

To travel,

To be your best self.

Your body is working for you and your body and your mind crave the stillness in order to recharge.

So find stillness in every day and be proud and grateful for all that your body does.

Hold on to this as you take one last deep inhale in through the nose and just let it fall out of your mouth and slowly start to bring yourself back into the room and do so really gently with your eyes closed,

Noticing every single part of your body.

Come back to life and move and shift and notice those movements and be present with those movements.

Gently stretch your arms up and release them down.

And when you're ready,

Open your eyes,

Feeling refreshed,

Feeling rested and enjoy the rest of this day.

Thank you for meditating with me.