Okay,
So just taking a moment to formalize the sitting practice.
Closing your eyes.
Getting comfortable in whichever position that you're in.
And focusing your attention now to the internal experience and recognizing that this is a transition.
It's not something that automatically happens when we get ready for a seated meditation,
But it's a process of coming home to ourself,
Using your breath right now to guide this process,
But just recognizing that it can feel a little uncomfortable in the beginning.
Oftentimes it can help to simply ask the question of why you are even taking the time.
To do this practice.
The gain of this practice is not instant.
It's a long-term journey.
A long-term investment in yourself.
But simply asking why kind of helps the nervous system to settle into this experience,
To tap into the value of why it's important to be with oneself in a quiet way.
Thinking of the body as a space of refuge.
Where all of the external noise can be drowned out.
And an intimacy between the knowing mind and the unconscious mind.
And the body that we encompass gets to spark that communication between the two.
Instead of always being from the neck up,
This is an opportunity for that mind and that body to kind of speak to each other again.
And in a world where.
.
.
There is really an endless opportunity for stimulation.
A constant dopamine drip.
In our system.
This is a rewiring of sorts.
It's intentionally choosing to power down the exterior receptive awareness in our minds and care about the internal landscape.
And in times of distress or discomfort.
Realizing that everything you need,
Your body has already the natural intelligence to offer the next best thing,
Whether that's you repeating to yourself that you're safe in this moment.
Using that message to calm yourself or using your breath.
To let the sympathetic nervous system know that you are okay,
That you are not actually under direct threat.
By tapping into the body,
Into the sensations to ground and anchor in the here and now.
These are tools that help one in moments of extreme discomfort or feeling trapped and alone.
Looking inward is an opportunity that has always been there,
But sometimes we're so habitually used to looking outside of ourself for the help,
The help that already exists inside.
And when we think about what is healing.
It's actually kind of simple.
It doesn't have to be too complicated.
It doesn't mean it's easy,
But it is simple.
That it really is getting to know the nature of your mind,
The way it thinks and operates,
Its habitual responses.
And the flavor of your heart,
How it is impacted by the world,
How it's impacted by your own inner world,
Its sensitivities.
What it bears.
This practice is about caring about something in which we cannot actually grasp but often we can feel it.
It is a knowing inside of our system that this is a very nurturing,
Attuned response to taking care of ourselves.
Continuing to use the breath to guide yourself in anchoring down more into the present moment experience.
I made these next few moments.
As you've already done.
The intentional work of.
.
.
Being still and curious about your experience.
Now really just soaking it in.
What does this feeling feel like?
How does it feel different than when we started?
Things are different.
Your system is different right now.
What does it mean to be more?
Comfortable with silence and stillness.
And in these final moments before.
You then transition.
Back out into the world.
And this little piece of what it felt like to be grounded in your body and in the present moment carry with you throughout the day.
So you will actually have a whole host of opportunities to notice.
What it means to be embodied,
A moment of gratitude,
Shifting the focus back into the present moment,
When,
In the future,
In the past.
What you did right now is actually the foundation for how you can approach the rest of your activities throughout the day.
And I hope you continue to carry the merits of your practice with you.
So the merit of whatever you cultivated or nurtured in your meditation practice,
May you share that with those around you.
Continuing to carry out.
All the goodwill and the good intention that was nurtured here.
And may you have a really good rest of your day.
