Take a little time to gather yourself.
Take time to arrive.
Find your connection with the ground.
This connection may be quite subtle but very noticeable as well.
Close your eyes if that feels comfortable.
Make yourself open to whatever you might receive in these next few moments or so.
Be ready to empty yourself to receive,
Not engaging your mind.
This is not an intellectual exercise.
But when thoughts or other distractions come along,
Simply be aware of these.
Acknowledge them but not entertaining them.
Rather,
Come back to your point of focus.
Breathe deep into your center.
Notice where the breath travels to,
And let that be your point of focus,
Your point for receiving.
Invite for yourself now,
Joy,
Happiness.
Both have slightly different meanings,
But probably not too much difference to worry about now.
Happiness being spontaneous,
Not relying on measuring up against external things,
Measuring up against what you think you need,
Or measures of success,
Or how you will find security,
Or believe you will find security.
Joy being much more of an ongoing continual feeling that comes from within,
Of contentment and peace.
Desire this for yourself,
Knowing that really deep within at your core,
There is a source of great peace,
Which is also a source of great joy.
Notice when you are distracted,
When you are measuring up your lot.
Remember then that you can come back to your core,
Knowing that at any moment you can connect and find,
Perhaps with some difficulty at times,
This joy within.
Certainly there will be periods of grief and periods of sadness that you will endure as well,
And there will be dark nights.
But when you come through those,
You can remember that you have this source and find your connection with it again.
So calling upon this now,
Calling upon the source within you to let its wonders flow out,
To fill you with joy,
Fill you with its light.
And without forcing it,
Try smiling or laughing.
Let your smile grow and feel a smile as well,
Expanding in your heart area if you can.
Imagine that it is almost like a mouth of its own,
A big broad grin drawn over your chest.
Smiling is contagious.
You might like to think of people you know who are always smiling.
People like the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu.
You rarely see pictures of them when they are not smiling.
When another person smiles,
It's hard not to smile back.
A person's smile softens the heart.
Wish now for joy to be sent to others who make you smile.
Let your light radiate out to bless them,
To will them to feel joy,
And especially if they are feeling sad or empty at the moment,
Especially if they are in real need of being uplifted.
Desire that they are happy,
That they are at peace.
Welcome and enjoying the well-wishing for our own happiness,
And enjoy the well-wishing for your own happiness that others wish for you as well.
Give and receive.
Turn your attention now to the many,
Many millions around the world who are not happy for very many reasons.
Some you may know.
Some may be very close to you and who you desire very strongly to be happy,
That they will find joy.
Think of those who are on their own,
Those who are suffering in many ways,
Those who feel desperate about their futures,
Lacking hope,
Those who have lost loved ones.
Desire that even in these difficult and dark spaces light shines,
That there is a kindling of joy in the hearts of those who are now suffering such pain and heartache.
Desire that joy comes to those that you love,
Your family,
Friends,
And others,
That they will be happy always,
Free from worry,
Even when illness and pain afflicts them.
They will still bear a smile and be able to see the positive side where they are.
Have a positive perspective in any situation they may find themselves in.
Desire happiness too for our animal friends,
Those that share our homes,
Those that come to our balconies or gardens,
And to our parks,
Those that live in sewers or are hidden from our view,
The wild creatures of the fields and forests,
Mountains,
Deserts,
And waters.
Desire that they will be happy.
Desire now that this wave of happiness flows further,
Reaching more and more people,
Touching more and more lives.
And in bringing happiness,
It brings an end to conflict and reasons for people being unkind to each other.
A desire for shared happiness and a knowledge that in being happy,
We can be well and can be at peace.
Come back now to your core,
That place within that you set your attention upon initially.
Take a moment or two just to become aware of being within a physical body.
Starting to notice sensations,
Sounds,
And feelings.
When you're ready,
Open your eyes.
