Welcome to Rooted Growth.
My name is Lisa.
Today's meditation is titled Allowing Ourselves to be Happy.
Many of us believe that happiness is something we need to earn,
Something that comes after.
After we do enough,
After we heal enough,
After we express our feelings enough,
After we work through our past wounds,
After we get it right.
But what if happiness isn't a reward?
What if it's simply a state that we keep postponing?
What if allowing yourself to feel okay is not giving up on that striving,
On that progress,
On the uncovering?
But what if it's just gently coming home?
So today my invitation is to practice allowing.
We don't need to chase joy.
So right now,
Notice your body just as it is,
Not how you think you should feel,
Only how it really feels right now.
If there's ease anywhere,
In your ankle,
In your knee,
In your belly,
In your shoulder,
Anywhere,
Let yourself notice it.
And if it isn't there,
That's okay too.
I think happiness doesn't require perfection.
I think maybe it just requires transparency and honesty.
I suspect you're noticing a subtle resistance.
I know I get thoughts that say,
If I relax and slow down,
Something else will fall apart that I'm not paying attention to.
If I feel happy and just stay with that,
When's the other shoe going to drop?
Don't argue with those thoughts.
We all have them.
Simply acknowledge them and let it soften.
And maybe say,
Hey,
You could take a seat right now.
I'm going to go back to leaning into this feeling of happiness.
I think that happiness doesn't always feel like excitement.
Sometimes it just might feel like relief.
Or maybe spaciousness.
Or maybe stillness.
That feeling that nothing is being demanded of me right now.
Let yourself rest in that simplicity.
Finally offer yourself this permission.
It's safe to let happiness be easy.
Breathe that in.
It's safe to let happiness be easy.
For this moment,
Nothing needs to change.
You're allowed to feel okay.
You're allowed to feel content.
You're even allowed to feel happy for no reason at all.
Now let's prepare for our meditation.
Find a comfortable seat and rest your hands gently in your lap and softly close your eyes.
Now go within to that place of inner quiet,
Inner stillness,
Where we experience our connection to our higher self.
Begin to observe the inflow and the outflow of your breath.
And with each inflow and outflow,
Allow yourself to become more relaxed,
More comfortable,
More at ease,
Maybe even happy.
Take your seat of quiet dignity.
Consider our centering thought for today.
Happiness lives in allowing.
I don't have to earn it.
Happiness lives in allowing.
I don't have to earn it.
Now I'll introduce the mantra for this meditation.
On the inhale,
Nothing to change.
On the exhale,
Nothing to earn.
Inhale nothing to change.
Exhale nothing to earn.
Nothing to change.
Nothing to earn.
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 moments.
And when you feel ready,
Gently open your eyes.
And bring the light of this practice back into your day.
As you move through your day,
Carry our centering thought with you.
Happiness lives in allowing.
I don't have to earn it.
Happiness lives in allowing.
I don't have to earn it.
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.
