Hi this is Stephanie Boxer Baum.
Thank you so much for meditating with me today.
So depending on however your day has been going today,
Let's just get comfortable.
Maybe your day is just starting out.
Maybe you're at the end of your day or the middle,
Who knows?
But let's just get comfortable.
Taking a comfortable seat.
Maybe you need a blanket.
Whatever feels good today.
Letting the mind and the body just really settle.
So gently closing your eyes.
Taking a deep breath in.
And a gentle exhale out.
Doing that once more.
Gentle inhale in.
And a deep exhale out.
For today's practice,
We'll be doing a choose your perspective practice.
Perspective also means to choose your perspective.
Can mean so many things in so many different contexts.
We're just going to take some time to get settled.
And just honing in on how we're feeling,
How we're doing.
In making space for some perspective.
So just beginning with some mindful breathing.
So we're going to focus the attention on the breath.
So that can look like even putting your hands on your stomach and feeling the rise and fall of the belly.
Or if it's available,
Just focusing in on the breath coming in and out of the nose.
And using that as your anchor.
So as thoughts come in or thoughts come out,
It's completely okay.
Just guide yourself back to the breath.
You can even say something silently in the mind like breathing.
So let's say the mind veers off into a situation or a story.
You can just lightly say to yourself breathing and bringing the attention back on the breath.
Gently breathing in,
Gently breathing out.
And I'll watch the time here for these next few minutes.
We'll just be in silence and just see how it goes.
Maybe the mind feels a bit distracted today or heavy,
Whatever it is,
It's all okay.
Just add some compassion there.
Just coming back to the breath the best that you can.
Gentle breathing in,
Gentle breathing out.
There's no right or wrong way to do it.
Just continuing to come back to the breath,
Gently guiding the mind in that direction,
Feeling the sensation of the air going in and out of your nose.
That's all it is.
All is enough just right now.
So on these next few breaths,
Explore bringing to mind a situation or a conversation,
Just something easy that feels okay to explore today,
Or perhaps you'd like to investigate your perspective.
Just using the first thing that comes to mind.
Just checking in with the body and how it's feeling.
And silently just asking yourself,
How am I feeling about this situation?
Just letting all the feelings be welcome.
Nothing to do,
Nothing to change.
Just being like the mountain,
Allowing for whatever is there to just simply be.
And with whatever the feelings are,
Offering a phrase of well-wishing.
Now this is something you can pick,
Whatever feels comfortable,
But it may sound something like,
May I offer myself some ease?
May I offer myself some ease?
Whatever sort of resonates today.
And we say,
May I,
Because it is a well-wishing.
Maybe you're not feeling so easy today,
And that's okay.
Sort of a compassionate gesture for yourself and how you'd like to feel about the situation.
Just repeating that phrase silently a few more times.
And on these next few breaths,
Just gently asking the question,
How can I support my perspective on this situation?
How can I support my own perspective on this situation?
And just being curious,
Allowing whatever comes to mind just to be at the surface.
There's nothing to do,
Don't have to jump into any story.
Just noticing what would feel supportive as you hold on to your own perspective.
Maybe there's a conversation to be had.
Maybe you just need to offer yourself some kindness and support,
Whatever the case is.
Just offering yourself the support you need.
And for these last few moments,
We'll take a few minutes to cultivate some joy.
Just a well-wishing for joy.
So picking a phrase that works for you today,
It could be something as simple as,
May I feel joy.
May I feel joy.
Another word resonates more tonight than use that.
Whatever feels good,
Planting a seed for joy,
For ease,
Contentment.
It's a cultivation practice.
So even if maybe today's not the day that you're feeling so much joy,
You can still plant the seed and support ourselves in the meantime.
So for these next few minutes,
Picking a phrase that really works for you today.
Gently breathing in,
Gently breathing out,
And using this phrase as a center focal point to come back to.
Taking another gentle breath in,
Another gentle inhale,
And a deep exhale.
Feeling some compassion for yourself for taking the time to check in with your perspective,
And to remind yourself of the power we have to connect back in with ourselves,
To really see how we want to feel,
And what do we want our perspective to be.
As I always like to say,
Just sharing that kind reminder that you are always enough as is.
Beginning to feel kind of into the hands and the toes,
Feeling back into the body.
Your surroundings.
And when you're ready,
Gently opening your eyes.
Thank you so much for meditating with me today.
I hope to be meditating again with you soon.
