Welcome.
This meditation is titled,
The Sun is Always Shining.
Take a deep breath with me and let it drop out naturally.
No need to shape it or force it.
Just let it go.
Here's what I'm sitting with today.
Even when life feels cloudy,
Heavy,
Or just flat out impossible,
Your inner wisdom hasn't gone anywhere.
It's just like the sun.
Just because you can't see it through the storm and the clouds,
Doesn't mean that it stops shining.
Our world throws clouds at us all the time.
Mine does.
Overwhelm,
Anxiety,
Imposter syndrome,
That loop of self-doubt that we accidentally binge like a bad Netflix show.
But underneath all of it,
Your clarity,
Your steadiness,
Your willingness to keep growing,
Your compassion is still there.
It is easy to forget.
We all get caught up staring at the storm and thinking,
Well,
I guess the light's gone.
I hope it comes back eventually.
But the truth is the night and the light never left.
You just got distracted by the weather.
All those clouds,
Thoughts,
Moods,
That weird ache in your chest that shows up when you wake up at three o'clock in the morning,
Those aren't you.
They're temporary.
Feelings aren't facts,
Right?
They drift,
They shift,
And they lose their power as soon as we stop trying to fight them.
And the moment we stop identifying with the clouds and remember that we're the sky,
That's when the light can start shining through again.
Not just because you did it right,
But because it never stopped being there in the first place.
So today,
We're not trying to make anything happen.
We're just remembering what's already true.
So let's sit with that.
As we consider our meditation time this morning,
Begin by noticing your breath,
Not changing it.
Just notice the inhale and the exhale,
The inhale and the exhale.
Now,
Bring your attention to the center of your chest and notice whatever sensation is there.
Is there a warmth,
A stillness,
A tightness,
Maybe a numbness?
Whatever it is,
It's welcome.
You don't have to name it.
Just meet it with curiosity.
Imagine that deep down in your chest,
In your heart area,
Beneath it all,
There's a quiet light.
It's not flashy or dramatic.
It's steady and patient.
And it's not a metaphor.
It's a feeling.
It's that moment of clarity,
Just the moment that shows up in the middle of chaos.
It's the part of you that knows,
Even when your mind's kind of a mess,
It's always there.
Right now,
You're remembering.
So as you prepare to meditate together,
Let's take a moment to consider our centering thought.
My inner light is always shining,
Even when I cannot see it.
My inner light is always shining,
Even when I cannot see it.
Rest your hands gently in your lap and close your eyes.
Allow yourself to settle.
Allow everything to let go,
Softening your eyes,
Softening your jaw.
Take your seat of quiet dignity.
My inner light is always shining,
Even when I cannot see it.
My inner light is always shining,
Even when I cannot see it.
Please continue with your meditation.
I'll mind the time,
Starting now and ending with a soft bell.
My inner light is always shining,
Even when I cannot see it.
Unhurried,
Present.
When you feel ready,
Gently open your eyes.
Bring the light of this practice back into your day.
And carry our centering thought with you.
My inner light is always shining,
Even when I cannot see it.
My inner light is always shining,
Even when I cannot see it.
Thank you so much for your practice today.
I'm Lisa Parenteau,
And this is Rooted Growth,
Meditation for people who are done outsourcing their peace.
See you next time.
