Welcome to your connection meditation.
This is a space to reconnect with yourself.
And to explore the importance of your connection with others and the world around you.
This practice is inspired by conversations I've been having recently.
As well as listening to conversations on podcasts about AI and the shift of moving even further away from real human connections.
Now,
Don't get me wrong,
Ever since the pandemic,
And really even earlier with the birth of the internet,
There has been more and more focus on virtual meetups and global access to information and online communities.
Which is amazing.
It's the reason that we get to share these practices together here in this space.
It's how incredible shifts in the way we understand the world and access information can come about.
And something to keep in mind is that there's something else that can be true at the same time.
There's something that we have to be more and more aware of and intentional about,
Now more than ever.
And that is cultivating our real,
In-person connections.
As AI companions,
Chatbots,
And AI agents become more and more commonplace,
A massive societal wave of loneliness is starting to arise.
The understanding that this is happening,
In some ways,
Is a beautiful thing.
Because it's starting to create a counter-trend.
Where there is a powerful craving for authentic human connection,
Real-life events and physical communities.
Something that AI can never replace.
So even though we're going to use these incredible virtual online technologies as the vehicle in which we will remind ourselves to reconnect to what is real,
I hope that this meditation actually encourages you to set your phone aside when you're done and go live your life face to face with what is real.
Let's practice together.
Find your comfy meditation seat.
And close your eyes if that feels right today.
As you settle into your meditation space.
Start to notice the connection that you have with the support underneath you.
The Earth holding you up in this moment.
Recognize that you are connected to the ground below you.
And start to notice what is around you right now.
The walls and roof in the place that you're sitting in.
Or the nature around you if you're outside.
Even the sounds that you can hear.
And the temperature on your skin.
By noticing these things,
You are recognizing your connection to the world around you.
And you actually are interacting with the world around you.
Be with what's here right now.
Just as it is.
Your practice space doesn't have to be quote unquote perfect.
In order for it to be a perfectly great place to connect with what's here right now.
The fact that you can hear.
The facts that you can feel.
The fact that you can notice what this moment is like.
If it feels good to place a hand on your belly.
.
.
And a hand on your heart.
I invite you to do so.
Connecting to yourself right now.
And start to notice your breathing.
Connecting with your breath.
Slowly breathe in… and slowly breathe out.
Sometimes we can get so busy with everything we have to do.
That we forget just how beautiful.
Connecting to our breath can be.
Sit here and notice what it feels like to breathe.
What it feels like to be alive.
And whatever is here within you right now is welcome.
Any physical sensations?
Any thoughts?
Any feelings or emotions.
When we notice what's here.
We are making a connection.
With ourselves,
Without conditions.
We don't have to push anything away.
And if something is hard to be with.
We can still nod towards it.
I recognize you are a part of me today.
And then we can see what else is there to connect with.
There may be one thing that's needing your attention and asking you to connect with it inside yourself.
There might be 40 things that you're noticing.
And would like to connect with you.
Just observe.
Without judging what's there.
Now think of a way that you can connect with yourself.
Something that you do regularly or have tried before that helped you feel like you were in union with yourself.
It might be going for a walk alone without your phone.
It might be giving yourself a face massage every morning for 5 minutes.
It might be journaling everything that's on your mind.
What's something that you do?
That helps you reconnect to yourself.
Picture yourself doing that something.
How do you feel when you take moments to reconnect with yourself?
Now,
Think of a way that you can connect with another person today.
It might be calling a family member.
Or sending flowers to your friend that just changed careers.
It might be inviting someone to sit and share a meal with you.
What could you do today?
That would invite in connection.
With another beautiful human being.
How do you feel when you take moments to connect with people you love?
Now,
Let's take a moment to think about what it's like to connect with the world around us.
What it feels like to walk barefoot in the dewy morning grass and ground ourselves in the present moment.
What it feels like to swim in a cool lake on a hot summer's day.
What it feels like to listen to a crackling fire with nothing else to do but be mesmerized by the dancing flames.
What it feels like to release the weight of the world when a soft breeze gently brushes our skin.
It feels like to sit in wonder and awe as we witness the stars come out after dusk.
How do you feel when you take moments to connect with the natural world around you?
Breathe in what it feels like to remind yourself of these moments of connection.
And the invitation I have for you.
Today and each day.
Is to prioritize connection.
Somehow.
Hug someone.
Touch your own face Watch the leaves dance in the breeze.
Send a funny message to a friend that you know will make them laugh.
Our connection to what is true within ourselves,
With others,
And with the natural world around us.
Helps to keep us coming back home to our humanness.
Lean into the beautiful experience of being human.
Take a cleansing breath into your heart.
And out into the world.
And when you're ready.
I invite you to open your eyes.
And take a moment to look around you.
See what's real,
Right now.
Connect with the space that's around you and supports you.
As you move back into your day.
I invite you to connect.
Take little moments to ask yourself,
How can I reconnect to what's real?
You might be surprised at just how powerful.
Purposeful and intentional connection can be.
Thank you for connecting with me through this practice.
Let's get off of our devices now.
And I hope you can move back into your life,
Prioritizing moments of connection to self,
Others,
And the world.
Have a beautiful day and I look forward to practicing with you again soon.
