Welcome to Rooted Growth.
Place where you're invited to slow down.
To soften.
And to reconnect.
My name is Lisa,
And I'm so glad you're here.
In this practice,
You'll find space for both stillness and inspiration without pressure and without needing to be anywhere else or anyone else.
This week I've been reflecting a lot on the difference between fear and faith.
I'm facing some surgery.
This week,
And so.
.
.
I have been exploring.
These two.
Pieces of myself.
And it's not because fear disappeared through my meditation practice.
It's actually quite the opposite.
It seems that whenever life presents us with something important,
A decision,
A transition.
A challenge.
A health concern in my case.
Fear is often the first one to arrive at the party.
For your love to tell me stories.
It races ahead into the future.
It imagines every possible outcome,
Most of which are not very fun.
And while fear believes it's protecting us,
And I understand all of that.
It often leaves us feeling exhausted.
And trying to solve problems that haven't even happened yet.
You know,
I've heard from the podium,
Thank you.
Heavens.
All of the things I imagined were going to happen never in fact happened.
Faith moves differently.
Faith doesn't require certainty.
Faith doesn't demand guarantees.
Faith Simply says.
Let's take the next step.
And see.
Faith reminds us that we've made it through uncertain times before.
We've survived things that we once thought we couldn't.
That somehow even when the path isn't clear,
Life continues to unfold.
Take a moment now and bring to mind something that feels uncertain in your life.
I'm going to think about my surgery Thursday morning.
You don't need to analyze it.
You don't need to fix it.
Just acknowledge it.
Then notice your breath.
The breath is always happening now.
Not tomorrow.
Not Thursday morning at 7.
30am.
Not next week.
Not in whatever imagined future fear is inviting me into.
But right here,
Right now.
Sometimes I think that's why meditation can be so powerful.
Because it gently reminds me.
That while my fear lives in the future,
It's life that's happening in this moment.
And its faith.
That's happening in this moment.
In this moment.
There's nothing I need to solve.
Nothing I need to force.
Nothing we need to figure out.
Just this breath.
And then the next.
I will choose faith.
One breath at a time.
Let those words settle.
Not as a demand.
Not as spiritual performance.
Simply as a gentle intention.
A willingness to trust.
Which you cannot yet see.
A willingness to believe that you will meet whatever comes with grace.
Support and strength.
And I think that's what faith really is.
Not knowing.
And moving forward anyway.
Now let's prepare for our meditation.
Find a comfortable seat.
And rest your hands gently in your lap.
Softly closing eyes if that's comfortable for you.
And go within to that place 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 inhale.
And exhale.
Allow yourself to become more relaxed.
And more comfortable.
Take your seat of quiet dignity.
And consider our centering thought.
I choose faith.
One breath at a time.
I choose faith.
One breath at a time.
Hold that softly in your heart.
Now I'll introduce today's mantra.
I trust.
On the inhale I.
On the exhale,
Trust.
I trust.
Please continue with your meditation.
I'll mind the time.
Starting and ending with this soft bell.
It's time to gently release the mantra.
Sit restfully for a few moments.
And will you feel ready?
Allow your eyes to open slowly.
Bring the light of this practice back into your day.
Take a moment to appreciate yourself for showing up today.
For practicing.
For trusting.
And for remembering that courage is not the absence of fear.
It's choosing not to let fear get in the way.
Drive the bus.
As you move through your day,
Carry our centering thought with you.
I choose faith one breath at a time.
I choose faith,
One breath at a time.
Thank you so much for your practice today.
We have the calm we've cultivated here.
Continue to support and steady you.
Through whatever comes next.
