Welcome,
Let's settle in.
If it feels supportive,
Allow the eyes to close or softly gaze down.
There is something lovely about the beginning of a new day.
The way the light slowly fills the room.
The familiar sound of morning.
The feeling that for a little while,
The day is still waiting to unfold.
And somewhere in these first moments,
There's an opportunity to choose how we want to greet ourselves.
This morning.
Let's begin with a little kindness.
Naught is something we need to earn.
But is something we can offer ourselves freely and generously.
Take a moment to notice where you are.
Feel the support beneath your body.
And the gentle movement of your breath.
Perhaps you can sense the air against your skin.
Or hear the sounds of the world beginning its day.
Allow yourself to enjoy simply being here.
Think about the way you might greet someone you love in the morning.
Perhaps a warm smile.
A gentle voice.
A little encouragement.
There's something comforting about being met with that kind of warmth.
And we can bring some of that same warmth into the way we greet ourselves.
Imagine beginning your morning as you would a welcome dear friend.
Patience and understanding.
A genuine wish.
For their happiness.
Notice how it feels to extend that same gentle welcome to yourself.
Now think of something you appreciate about yourself.
It might be your curiosity.
Your humor.
Way you care for people.
Your willingness to learn.
For a quality that feels uniquely yours.
There's no need to search for something extraordinary.
Often its simplest qualities that bring something beautiful into our lives.
And the lives of those around us.
Take a moment to enjoy that appreciation.
To recognize something good in yourself.
Without needing to explain it or prove it.
As you begin to imagine the day ahead.
Consider the many small opportunities you'll have to treat yourself kindly.
Perhaps you'll take a moment to enjoy your morning coffee or tea.
We will step outside and feel the sunshine.
Give yourself a little breathing room between activities.
Or pause long enough to notice something that makes you smile.
These moments may seem ordinary.
But they can bring a sense of warmth and ease into the day.
And the more we notice them,
The more natural they become.
Will begin to make room for them.
Kindness can also be found in the words we choose.
The quiet encouragement we offer ourselves.
The appreciation we feel for our efforts.
The patience we bring to learning something new.
Imagine moving through today with that kind of friendly support.
Take a slow breath in.
And let it go.
Notice the gentle rhythm of breathing.
Steadiness of the ground beneath you.
This simple pleasure of having this moment to yourself.
Begin to notice your surroundings.
The sounds.
The light.
The feeling of being here.
At the beginning of another day.
There's so much possibility in the way we choose to meet each morning.
And today,
One of those possibilities is to treat yourself.
With a little more warmth.
When you're ready,
Allow your eyes to open.
May you find plenty of reasons to smile today.
And may one of them be the kindness you show yourself.
