Welcome to a meditation entitled,
As Is.
Take a breath with me.
Not a perfect breath,
Not a,
I meditate every day so this should feel better than it does breath.
Just a breath.
Exactly as it arrives.
Exactly as is.
Because today we're sitting with a truth that shows up like a gentle dare.
A quote by Carl Rogers,
The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am,
Then I can change.
Some days arrive with glitter.
Some days arrive with grace.
And some,
Maybe like this one,
Roll in carrying a little resistance,
A little pushback under its arm,
A little self-doubt,
A little imposter syndrome,
A little,
I should already be further along than this,
But there's a quiet miracle that's tucked inside this quote by Rogers.
That nothing shifts until we stop fighting who we are right now.
But fighting doesn't change things.
It just increases our anxiety and our discontent and our irritableness and our restlessness.
It doesn't shift the messy parts or the tired parts or the wild,
Ambitious,
Still becoming parts.
I think I have all of those.
When we practice acceptance,
We're not giving up.
We're laying down some unnecessary armor.
We're choosing to meet ourselves without the usual disclaimers and without disclaiming or excusing or apologizing.
We're saying,
This is me,
And I'm still worthy of growth,
And I'm certainly still worthy of grace.
I find that self-acceptance isn't a finish line.
It's not over.
I've continued to become really aware that it's a doorway.
The moment we stop insisting things should be different,
They should be different,
I should be different,
We make more space for tenderness.
We make more space for maybe becoming a little different or seeing people a little differently.
So for our meditation today,
I want you to lean into the relief of being as is and things being as is.
No upgrades,
No spiritual glow filter,
Just the raw beating heart of you.
Lovable,
Evolving,
Imperfect,
Open,
And ready.
Let the breath land where it lands.
Let your thoughts wander if they need to wander.
Let yourself soften into this truth.
You don't have to be fixed to be worthy of transformation.
This is the soil where change come from.
It's not pushing from presence,
From honesty,
From faith,
From acceptance.
Now let's prepare for our meditation.
Find a comfortable seat and softly close your eyes.
Rest your hands gently in your lap.
Now go to that place within of inner quiet where we can experience our connection to our higher self.
Begin to observe the inflow and the outflow of your breath.
And with each in-breath and out-breath,
Allow yourself to become more relaxed,
More comfortable,
More at peace.
Take your seat of quiet dignity.
And now consider our centering thought,
I welcome myself exactly as I am.
I welcome myself exactly as I am.
Hold it softly in your heart.
And now I'll introduce today's mantra.
I am enough.
Inhale,
I am.
Exhale,
Enough.
I am enough.
Enough.
Please continue with your meditation.
I'll mind the time starting and ending with a soft bell.
It's time to gently release the mantra.
Sit restfully for a few minutes.
And when you feel ready,
Gently open your eyes.
Bring the light of this practice back into your day.
And as you move forward,
Carry our centering thought with you.
I welcome myself exactly as I am.
I welcome myself exactly as I am.
Thank you so much for your practice today.
May the calm you've cultivated here continue to support and steady you.
Through whatever comes next.
