Do What Feels Good

Sometimes we just need an easy reminder to do what feels good...and sometimes we may not even be sure of what that is. This meditation is designed to add some ease into your day and to get some clarity on what will feel really good in this current moment. Practicing presence without judgment and, as always, allowing for so much self-compassion in the process.

Music: Deep Meditation by Grand_Project

Transcript

Hi, This is Stephanie Boxerbaum. Thank you so much for meditating with me today. For today's practice, We're going to be doing a do what feels good meditation practice. Sometimes we just need those reminders and check-ins of what really does feel good to us. And that can mean different things on different days. And let's say maybe you're feeling a bit under the weather. Well, Doing what feels good on that day is definitely different than if you feel like you're having your most amazing energy, Right? So we want to be able to use these practices so we can resource ourselves and we can check in when sometimes we're not even sure what feels good. To kind of get in our body, Get still, And just practice some presence and maybe see what just arises. What simply arises that can feel good? Maybe it's taking a walk. Maybe it's having a conversation. I'm just a big believer that sometimes in this wild world where we are bombarded constantly with different activities, Different events, Or maybe there's no activities and no events, But you want to have some. Like we're just, You know, There's often so many different places and spaces that we can be in at one time that it's helpful to have a centering moment to just check in to say, Like, What really would feel good to me? So that's what we'll be doing with this practice. So when you're ready, Coming to a comfortable seat, Or maybe if doing mindful walking feels better today, Or laying down. It's really whatever feels comfortable. And just taking up space. Taking a gentle, Deep breath in, And an easy exhale out. Let's do that one more time. Gentle inhale in, And a deep exhale out. Just setting that intention, This reminder that we're checking in with what feels good. There's no specific answer or specific thing. It's just allowing the mind and the body to settle. So we can really see what's there. So for these next few moments here, I'll mind the time. I'm just going to connect in with our breath. So that may look like focusing in on the air, Going in and out of the nostrils, Or putting your hand on your belly and just watching the rise and fall of the breath. Just taking some time to settle the body. With no specific outcome. Maybe you'll feel more relaxed after. Maybe you won't. We're just simply practicing the continuity of attention. So you're going to have thoughts. It's totally normal. We are not meditating, So we can stop thinking. We just want to gently bring ourselves back to the breath when we wander off and go into a story or thoughts or thinking or distraction. Just giving ourselves some kind self-compassion. Say, I got you. Let's just come back to the breath. We can think about that story. We can think about whatever we need to think about later. Just for right now, We are just focusing on the deep inhale in, The gentle exhale out. And can you sense into that presence? Pulsing of the fingers. Maybe you feel your heart beating. Just really being in the presence of your own mind and your own body. So stay here for these next few moments. Just allowing some ease to take over this moment for you. This next deep inhale in. Bringing a situation to your mind's eye of when you really have felt really good. Maybe you envision the people you are with. Maybe you can envision the activity you are doing. Perhaps it's just as simple as the morning coffee or tea that you had. There's no judgment. There's no pressure. We're just kind of calling to the mind, When have I felt really good lately? Now dropping that story and just allowing that energy to be in the body. Sensing in to what does it really feel like when you feel good in your mind, In your body? Can we sense into that energy? Where do you feel it in your body? I mean, Technically, How do we really know when we're feeling good, Right? Just checking in, Sensing into where the energy is that you feel in your body when you are feeling good. Taking a deep inhale in and a long exhale out, Offering some gratitude. Gratitude for all those moments where you have felt good. It doesn't have to be externally driven. It's just for yourself when you have felt good. Feeling gratitude. And recognizing that it's not about that every minute of every second has to feel good, But we want to keep calling in and paying attention to what does feel good. And finding more of those internal moments that are not driven by an external moment. But reminding yourself that the energy that you are feeling right now, You can call upon at any time you need to, Or at least can try. Taking another deep inhale in and another exhale out. We're going to come back to the breath for a few more minutes. Now, If you are someone where it's harder to stay still, Harder to calm the mind, That's okay. These simple practice moments build and grow over time. Every meditation practice is different. Depends on how you're doing. Depends on how you're feeling. We aren't really trying to control it. We just want to notice, How am I doing in this moment? So just for these next few moments, We'll continue to watch the breath. And you can even think to yourself, Breathing in the good, Exhaling the calm. Breathing in the good, Exhaling the calm. Really filling up your space, The mind, The body, With this gentle cultivated energy that really can be a resource. Sometimes when we feel worn out, Tired, Drained, Whatever the case may be, We want to be well-resourced. We want to be able to have ways that we can support ourselves simply by being still and being with what is. So if today is particularly challenging, You can offer yourself compassion phrases too. May I feel the good. So sending yourself that well-wishing. So I'll watch our time here for this next little bit. And I encourage you to feel the good. Fill your space with ease and calm in whatever way feels good to you in this moment and in this practice, Simply for right now. Taking another gentle inhale in and a deep exhale out. Beginning to come into your surroundings, Maybe wiggling your fingers and toes, And knowing that you can remain here for as long as feels comfortable. But if you're ready to end your practice, Kind of begin prepping the mind for going about your day. And as I always like to share this reminder, You are always enough as is. And when you are ready, Taking as much time as you need, Gently opening your eyes. Thank you so much for meditating with me today, And I hope to be meditating with you soon.