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Daily Inspiration: Contraction Versus Expansion

by Beth Kurland, Ph.D.

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Meditation
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In this short daily inspiration video, I suggest a powerful signal from your body that you can begin to pay attention to. As we pay attention to this signal, it can tell us when we are moving away from well-being and when we are moving toward well-being in our day. Just bringing curiosity and awareness can help begin to shift patterns of stress. Disclaimer: This video is purely for educational purposes and is not intended as a psychological intervention or treatment of any kind.

Transcript

If you want to experience greater well-being.

Here's.

.

.

One thing that you can bring your attention to.

That can really point you in the direction of greater ease.

And that is to notice the area around your heart center.

And in particular to really pay attention to when you feel more contracted.

And tense and tight.

And when you feel more expansive or spacious.

Or soft or relaxed or open.

And that sensation.

This contraction versus more expansiveness is immensely helpful in guiding us towards things that move us in the direction of well-being or move us away from the direction of well-being and so as you go through your day really become curious about what are the things that you say to yourself that might cause you to be more contracted versus what are the kinds of thoughts that you have that lead to more openness around your heart.

You might notice behaviors.

And choices that you make in the day that create more of that contraction versus behaviors or choices that create more openness or spaciousness.

Expansiveness.

So I invite you to really bring some curiosity to that and see what you can notice.

I'd love to hear your comments.

Take care.

© 2026 Beth Kurland, Ph.D.. All rights reserved. All copyright in this work remains with the original creator. No part of this material may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

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