Hi,
This is Stephanie Boxer Baum.
Thank you so much for meditating with me today.
For today's practice,
We're going to be doing a peace and presence meditation.
So this will be guided and really there's no purpose of this meditation other than just letting yourself be exactly as you are and finding some present moments.
Often during the week,
During the holidays,
During busy times,
We just need a moment for ourselves to find stillness.
So with that in mind,
Coming to a supported position,
Whether that's laying down,
Maybe that's sitting up today in a comfortable chair,
Whatever really feels supportive for you today.
And just gently landing wherever you are.
Settling into the mind and the body.
Allowing for a gentle deep breath in and a long exhale out.
Breathing in peace.
Exhaling presence.
Whatever mood or whatever energy you have in this very moment,
Letting yourself have some kindness to accept your current state of being exactly as you are.
Not needing to change anything,
Not needing to adjust anything.
Simply allowing yourself,
Your mind,
Your body to be acceptable to you right now in this very moment.
We practice meditation for many reasons.
One of them though really to be in acceptance of what is Meeting ourselves with kindness,
With self-compassion and offering yourself the support that you need.
So for these next few moments here,
There'll just be some music playing.
And the instruction here is really just to be with yourself exactly as you are.
Gentle breath in,
Deep exhale out.
Knowing the mind may wander and that is okay.
We simply come back to the breath or sound.
Whatever is really helpful to ground you today and bring you back to this centered present moment.
On this next inhale in,
Gently asking yourself,
What are you noticing right now?
Is the mind feeling a bit antsy?
Are you able to relax in a bit more?
And whatever is here for you today,
Just allowing it to be whatever it is,
Whatever the thoughts are,
Whatever the energy is.
As we're cultivating this sense of presence and presence really starts with what is.
What is happening right now in this very moment?
Not that you have to do any heavy thinking,
Maybe just noticing how does the body feel?
How is the breath feeling?
Gently breathing in kindness,
Gentle exhale out with ease.
And as we continue to drop into this present centered place,
There is no judgment.
It's just a continuity of attention that we keep coming back to a centered place of presence.
The mind is going to do what it always does,
Thinking,
Planning,
Future,
The past.
And we can meet all of that with kindness.
For now,
We're just bringing our attention back to the present moment.
And as we're coming back to a center point,
Whether that's your breath,
Maybe that's supportive touch,
If you want to clasp your hands,
If you need a little bit more today of just showing yourself that you are here to support yourself in this moment.
So I'll watch our time here.
And I encourage you to continue to be supportive of yourself in this moment.
It's okay if the mind thinks we just gently bring it back.
It's okay if maybe we feel uncomfortable,
We need to shift our body.
It's okay.
We're practicing this continuity of attention.
So in our daily life,
We're practicing this continuity of attention.
We can find less reactivity or steadiness.
So continuing to stay in this moment,
Allowing yourself to be exactly as you are.
Taking another gentle inhale in and a relaxing exhale out.
Giving yourself a few moments just to be still in your own mind,
Your own body.
Maybe this meditation went exactly as you wanted it to,
Or maybe it didn't at all.
And that's okay.
It's why we call it a practice.
We are cultivating this sense of presence.
And that doesn't mean that it just shows up whenever we want it to.
And that is okay,
Too.
Taking another inhale in,
Exhale out on your own timing,
Beginning to come into your surroundings a little bit,
Maybe wiggling your fingers and toes.
Giving yourself a supportive message,
However that sounds like today.
And as always,
Sharing that reminder with you that you are always enough as is.
Thank you so much for meditating with me today,
And I look forward to meditating again with you soon.
