Today,
We're going to take a few minutes to sit down and embrace the joy in our lives even though it may feel out of reach.
First,
I'd like you to make yourself comfortable.
You can sit,
Lie down,
Have your eyes open or shut,
Whatever makes you feel good and content in this moment.
Feel free to take a few moments to situate yourself and make any adjustments that are necessary.
Today,
We'll be focusing on embracing joy in the midst of the struggles that come with being human.
Let's face it,
Things are rarely perfect.
Sometimes they can be downright hard.
If you're experiencing one of those times right now,
I want you to know that even though things may seem dark,
There is always a little bit of light to be found.
We're going to look both inside and outside of ourselves to find that glimmer of light and let it grow into something that we can hold and embrace.
While we turn inside ourselves with our closed eyes for many meditations,
Today I want to give you the option to close them or leave them open.
Keeping our eyes open,
Especially if we're looking at something that brings us joy,
Can help us see the details of its existence and give us a deeper appreciation for it.
This may be something as small as the way the sun reflects off of the water,
The beauty of a flower,
The leaves rustling around you,
Or the hypnotizing beauty of a fire.
It's perfectly fine if you close your eyes instead if you prefer.
Whatever you choose,
I'd like you to find some stillness in your body and begin to slow your breathing.
Sometimes,
Breathing more slowly and deeply can cause some unpleasant sensations if we do this too quickly,
So I want you to first notice your breathing and then take a few breaths to gradually deepen it.
Once you're established in your breath,
Let's focus for a moment on the sensations in our body.
We all hold stress and emotions a little bit differently from one another.
Perhaps you feel a tension in your neck or your back,
A tightness in your belly,
Or an ache in your heart.
We're going to find some joy today in using it as an ointment for that pain.
Now let's look to find a small source of joy in your life.
If your eyes are open,
Maybe there's something around you that brings a smile to your face.
Something in nature?
Someone you see?
Use your senses to find that source of joy.
If there's nothing that quite fits the bill or you have your eyes closed,
Think about what little things have happened in your life or things you've noticed that you were grateful for or brought a little ease into your life.
These things don't have to be big and grand,
It could be something as simple as hitting a green light at the right time,
Getting a compliment,
Or seeing a beautiful bird that caught your eye.
No matter how dark things may seem at the moment,
No matter how hard it may appear to be to find that glimmer,
Something is always there.
Let's find that glimmer.
Take a moment and rewind your mind,
Pull out any little thing that brings you joy.
If you are hurting,
If your heart feels empty,
If there is a weight that is resting on your shoulders,
It's very easy to dismiss that glimmer.
Joy is like a candle flame,
Even a small one can light up a large space,
So let that glimmer you found light up the emptiness inside of you.
Imagine lighting up from the inside if you feel dark.
Let it warm your aches and pains if you're holding on to tension.
Allow it to release all the pain,
Sadness,
Frustration,
And every other emotion you've been holding on to.
This may not be a cure-all for everything that is ailing you,
Either physically or emotionally,
But finding that glimmer of joy somewhere in your life can help you to weather the storm just a little more.
Take that glimmer and hold it tight.
Keep it in your mind and your heart and collect more of these little joys every day so you can use them to bring a smile to your face in moments of pain.
Taking one more deep breath,
Thank yourself for taking the time to embrace some joy today.
Open your eyes if you've chosen to close them,
And continue moving through your day with a little more light inside.
So until next time,
Never stop growing.
