Today's topic is being present even when things aren't going your way or learning to be okay with just how life throws challenges and curve balls at us.
So we're gonna start today with some breathing first and then we'll get more into the lecture.
So if you want to close your eyes or you can have them open gaze towards the tip of your nose.
Then having the hands on the knees or thighs and if you're standing they can just be resting at your side.
Just taking a couple of breaths here.
And just noticing the expansion and collapse of the stomach as we're breathing here.
Noticing the expansion and folding of the rib cage.
Noticing the side of the ribs in the back.
Noticing the expansion and collapse of the chest,
The collar bones,
The shoulders.
Now,
Noticing just the full body as it rises and falls with each breath.
Maybe taking a more gentle breath here.
Seeing that noticing of the rib cage as you breathe.
For today's topic you can just listen as you breathe here.
So life is kind of messy.
As much as we want to plan,
Life keeps moving on and we can't control necessarily what happens in our life.
And sometimes even with our body we can't control how we're going to feel each day.
No matter how good we are at our exercise routine,
No matter how healthy we eat,
No matter if we are perfect hydration,
Perfect sleep,
Perfect mindfulness,
There's so many factors in our life.
The environment,
Pollution,
Allergens,
Other people,
The weather.
So how do we meet all of these variables?
Just like in the sea when there's hurricanes,
The waves around the hurricane are violent and strong.
But when we get to the center of the storm,
The waters are calm.
And the brave captain of their ship will sail into the storm knowing it could tear their ship apart.
Because at the center of the storm is the calm.
And just like with our mind,
The thoughts and emotions can be wild.
The waves can be rapid.
But if we brave that storm inside our hearts and our mind,
We witness and release and we push through that agony and frustration.
We allow ourselves to feel but not get consumed.
We can make it to the center of our storm.
The more we practice this challenge,
The easier the storm and the waves,
The pollution and the environment,
The other people and the loud honky horns won't bother us so much because we've practiced fighting the storm in our own heads.
And each day it's a new storm,
A new hurricane or tornado.
Over time the storms become smaller.
The cyclones dissipate.
And the waters in our head become clearer and clearer.
And as we do this,
Our life becomes simpler.
And even when life throws us its challenges,
We're able to stay more calm,
More centered,
Because the greatest storm,
The greatest challenge is always inside our own head.
For if we can conquer that,
If we can release and surrender to it,
No matter the challenge out in the world,
We can brave it.
Maybe you believe these words and maybe you don't,
And that's okay.
As we practice,
Over time you'll start to trust yourself.
You'll start to believe yourself because you'll get stronger and better at being at the center of your storm.
As you practice coming to your calm,
You'll find you're less triggered out in the world.
You'll find people bother you less.
You'll find even in sickness you can find some peace.
And even in turmoil you can find some compassion.
Sitting in that trust within yourself,
Even if it's just a small seed in the ground,
Know that trust will grow.
I'll finish here with a minute of silence.
No.
When you're ready,
If your eyes were closed,
You can go ahead and open them,
Taking in your surroundings,
And look around your space,
Move your head and eyeballs.
You can give yourself a nice hug.
Good job.
So we'll bring our hands to the heart,
And together we'll say,
Namaste.
