Simple gratitude meditation,
We are continuing to live in interesting and challenging times.
Gratitude can be medicine to help ourselves,
Our families and our communities move forward with positivity and strength.
Gratitude is the quality of being thankful and the readiness to show appreciation and to return kindness.
And while gratitude may arise spontaneously as a feeling,
It is also practice.
And when we practice gratitude on a regular basis,
It becomes a trait,
A durable state of mind that we carry with us.
We can start by appreciating and savoring what is going well in our bodies,
Our homes,
Our relationships and communities.
When we do this,
This counteracts negativity and bestows health on our bodies and minds.
Research shows the people who practice gratitude are more positive,
Compassionate and generous.
They have stronger relationships,
They sleep better,
Have healthier hearts and less aches and pains.
This can all start with being able to experience gratitude for the simple,
Ordinary things that happen in life.
And over time,
Seeing how this can shift our mindset towards greater positivity and resilience.
So let's try this.
We're gonna do a simple gratitude meditation together.
To start out,
Get yourself comfortable,
Take a moment to sit or lie down in a place that is comfortable where you can be stable and at ease.
If you feel comfortable doing so,
Close your eyes.
Take a moment to pause and soften.
And let's take a couple of breaths together.
Taking in a deep breath in and sensing the breath out.
Breathing in and exhaling out.
And the simplest way to begin is just by inviting appreciation for the breath in this moment.
The breath is life force energy.
As you breathe in,
You can invite that life force energy to circulate and move into the nooks and crannies of your body.
And as you exhale out,
Just invite your outer body to soften around that life force energy.
Breathing in,
Letting the breath expand and fill into the nooks and crannies.
As you exhale out,
Just inviting your outer body to soften around that fullness.
And I invite you to bring awareness to what is good in your life at this time.
Starting with anything that you consider to be positive with regard to your physical body and health.
Allow yourself to feel gratitude for the amazing functions of your body,
Including those that happen without your even noticing,
Like your respiration and your blood circulation and the way you're continuing to breathe in this moment and ongoingly.
And we can extend that gratitude for what we might call our non-headaches,
Places in the body that feel good right now,
Such as your head,
Your low back,
Maybe your shoulders feel soft and at ease,
Maybe you're feeling strong.
Let yourself just notice what's positive and take that in.
And we'll continue with considering what is good in our environment,
Including your home,
The place where you live,
Even the room you're in right now.
Bring your awareness to the fact that you have food,
Shelter,
And clothing,
And to what you appreciate in your home,
Including comfortable and favorite furniture items,
Plants and artwork,
Anything in your environment that brings you comfort and satisfaction.
Count yourself lucky that you have a home that feels comfortable and is safe for you.
Next,
Bring your awareness to the people in your life who are positive,
The people who support you day in and day out,
Whether it's in your household or in your work environment or wherever you hang out,
Those who make you laugh,
The people you love and enjoy.
And as you think of these people,
Notice how thinking of these people feels in your body.
You might notice what part of your body registers that gratitude for people in your life who are positive.
Finally,
Bring your awareness to positive things going on in your community,
Whether this is your work community,
