Gratitude Practice: Life Is A Gift

A simple, yet evocative, guided meditation, serving as a reminder for you to breathe, have fun and enjoy the journey. We are all built to take risks, fail often and learn from our adventures. Take time to be thankful today, for your messy, imperfect life.

Transcript

Today we are going to embrace calm for just a short while. Shift our focus onto the things that we are most grateful for. And feel better. My name is Amy and it is my pleasure to be guiding you today. Come and take a seat in your favorite meditation spot or wherever you are. Take a seat and make sure you're comfortable and supported. Turn your palms upward if you can. Keep your shoulders back down and relaxed. With posture that tells your mind that you are powerful. Close your eyes now so that you can focus. Deep breaths are used as a signal to let your mind know that you are safe. And right now. Here with me. For the next several minutes. You are. So. Let's take a few deep breaths together. Breathing in for six and out for eight. Let's go in two three four five six. And out two three four five six seven eight. Good again in two three four five six. And out two three four five six seven eight. Really feel your lungs now in two three four five six hold. And out two three four five six seven eight. Last time breathing right down into your stomach. In two three four five six. And out two three four five six seven eight. Now let your breath find a natural rhythm. Isn't breathing incredible. With every inhale oxygen floods your body supplying trillions of cells with the energy they need to boost immunity reduce stress regulate emotions calm the nervous system. It's the most magical connection of mind and body. And here you are breathing. Without even trying. You are a miracle. Before I had my children. I worried. That they may resent me for bringing them into this world. There is a lot to be afraid of. So much that I would not and will not be able to protect them from. I asked myself many times. Is it better to give the gift of life. With all of its ups and downs. Than to never give it at all. I know sometimes things are really hard. But imagine never having seen the stars. Looking up from your front door. Into the blackest clearest night. And seeing all the stars. Simply there. To take your breath away. The way the moon glows on a clear night. As though it is lit from within. Cascading snapshots of light. Onto the wild chaos below. Imagine never having taken risks for the sake of fun. Sneaking out. And sneaking in. Never having laughed with your best friend. Until your body ached. What if you'd never fallen in love for the first time. Or fallen even harder in love the second. What if you'd never felt the way the air feels at dawn. Felt a blanket of quiet appear across a city. After an all night party. You see. It may be messy. But it is a gift. To be alive. So today. Let's say thank you. Bring one hand to your heart. Feel it beating beneath your palm. And repeat these affirmations. Out loud. Or in your head. Thank you for my breath. Thank you for my body. Thank you for my senses. Thank you for my soul. Thank you for the earth. Thank you for the air. Thank you for my family. Thank you for my friends. Thank you for fun. Thank you for hope. Thank you for connection. Thank you for imagination. Thank you for excitement. Thank you for healing. Thank you for life. And now. As you open your eyes. Let's end this meditation with what you need to hear today. The more you practice thankfulness. The more you will have. To be thankful for.