Allow yourself to settle into a comfortable position,
In the position where you are alert but also relaxed.
Make any final movements that you need to feel yourself settled.
Let your feet rest on the floor.
Let your shoulders relax.
Feel your seat underneath you or the ground beneath you.
Let your hands rest easily.
Breathe in and out naturally.
As you begin to settle,
Start to imagine a feeling of quiet peace spreading throughout you.
Just a simple peace of sitting still.
A feeling of peace with your body being supported by the chair or the ground.
A peace in knowing that you don't need to do anything right now.
You can just be in this moment.
Sounds may arise and we'll just let them be.
We don't have to identify them.
They're just waves of sand that will come and go.
We don't have to attach to them.
We don't have to give them any emotional value.
We're just making space for everything that is.
And in that space,
We can find the seeds of peace.
Today,
We're going to explore together the idea of equanimity.
That means accepting things as they are and finding the inner peace that comes with that equanimity.
Acceptance.
Not because life is always perfect,
But because when we can begin to accept things,
We can stop struggling.
We can stop trying to change everything.
There is a peace in accepting what is really going on at any moment.
Peace is not weak or passive.
There's a strength in accepting life as it is,
In meeting life openly with a kind awareness.
Now,
I invite you to pay attention to your breath,
Noticing it just as it is.
Noticing the air as it enters,
Noticing the air as it leaves.
Now,
Bring your attention to your body,
Noticing it exactly as it is.
If there are areas of tension,
Bring your kind attention there.
Don't struggle.
Don't judge yourself.
See if you can accept the feelings that are there.
And in this acceptance,
Find a little ease.
There is peace in accepting your body as it is.
Peace in appreciating all it has done for you.
Let your breath carry peace through your body,
Softening any tensions,
Softening your heart.
Now,
I invite you to imagine this still lake.
The surface may ripple with small waves or large waves,
But in the depths,
The water is calm and still.
Peace doesn't mean stopping the ripples.
It means knowing that you are not the ripples.
Your awareness is like the depths,
Peaceful,
Still,
Calm,
Undisturbed.
Sounds may come.
Thoughts may come.
Physical sensations may come and go.
But you can remain at ease,
Open,
And aware.
Accepting what arises,
Not reacting to it,
Just observing.
Notice whatever is present,
Thoughts,
Emotions,
Sensations,
And let them be there without trying to change them.
This is peaceful acceptance.
If pleasant feelings arise,
Notice that they are pleasant.
If unpleasant feelings arise,
Notice that they are unpleasant and let them be.
Nothing needs fixing in this moment.
Nothing is fixed.
Everything changes.
There is peace in meeting what arises with calmness.
Not because everything is calm,
But because you are able to find calm.
As you breathe in,
Welcome the present moment.
As you breathe out,
Soften into peace.
In present moment,
Out peace.
If your mind wanders,
Notice that peacefully.
And peacefully bring your attention back to this present moment.
Breathing in present moment,
Breathing out peace.
Acceptance is softness and balance,
Not indifference or resignation.
It has been open to all of life.
Breathing in present moment,
Breathing out peace.
I invite you to bring your attention to your heart area,
Holding the peace there.
This peace that can stay with you throughout the day.
This peace that is available to help you face life with calm and equanimity.
Feel this peace throughout your body.
I invite you to bring your attention back to your whole body,
To your breath.
And start to make any movements that you feel necessary to bring you back to this room.
And when you feel ready to open your eyes.
