Welcome to today's meditation on the power of gratitude for sleep.
One of the reasons why it can be so hard to fall asleep at night is because we often have these feelings of agitation or worry or planning in our minds.
Sometimes we go over and over these thoughts and they prevent us from sleeping.
Often it's a feeling of agitation and it keeps increasing.
So one of the practices that we'd like to explore today is a practice of gratitude to support sleeping.
A mindfulness practice of appreciating the things in our life or the things in our world that bring a sense of joy and happiness can be really supportive of restful sleep.
This can help us to calm the body and the mind by focusing on what is good or pleasurable,
And that can help the body to relax,
To soften,
And that for this evening we can realize that everything will be okay.
So to start this practice I would like to invite you to be in any posture you would like,
To just get comfortable and relaxed in your body,
And to bring forth a thought of something that you're grateful for.
Perhaps reflect on your day.
What are the things from your day that you can be truly grateful for?
Was it that person that smiled at you?
That smiled at you and brightened your day?
Perhaps it was the weather that was cooperating,
Or the look on your pet,
Or that animal that brings you so much delight,
Or perhaps it's even the fact that you're alive today.
So bring your mind to the awareness of all of those things that you lived in this day that you can be grateful for,
Every little and big thing.
Take a moment to scan your day with an eye for appreciation and gratitude.
Now bring awareness to this moment and bring appreciation to your present experience.
Perhaps it's the sheets with a warm bed that you're in.
Perhaps it's the quietness in the room that you're in right now.
Maybe you can appreciate that you have this moment of time for yourself,
To relax,
To wind down,
To sleep.
Notice that in this moment you can find comfort with these feelings of appreciation,
Warmth,
Safety,
And ease in the body.
Appreciating each breath,
Each inhale,
And exhale.
This breath that keeps us alive.
Relaxing your whole body with each breath,
With each breath,
Each beautiful breath.
Feeling thankful for this moment of ease,
Comfort,
And safety.
As you breathe with each breath,
The body relaxes deeper and deeper.
Feeling at ease,
Feeling deep well-being at the core of yourself.
Feeling fully at ease,
Fully well in your whole being.
Slowly drifting,
Relaxing,
Surrendering into the full relaxation,
Calm,
And comfort of this moment.
Rest well.
Many blessings.
So so so so so so so
