Or evening where you are.
We're going to settle in together for a few moments of practice.
And before we do,
Let's get comfortable in a seat,
Or lying down,
Or propping ourselves up against a wall.
Let's take a moment to remove those major distractions of a computer screen,
Or a phone,
Or a fancy watch.
Maybe close the door,
Or turn down the lights.
Step away from some of the commotion that you might be a part of.
And then once you're there,
Do this with me.
Let's take a big,
Nourishing breath all the way in,
And all the way out.
Before we start to practice paying attention to the breath this morning,
I wanted to share with you a quote.
This quote is by Kenneth Blanchard.
He says,
There is a difference between interest and commitment.
When you are interested in something,
You do it only when it's convenient.
When you're committed to something,
You accept no excuses,
Only results.
Now this quote reminds us how we can shift from having a hobby to a lifestyle,
To doing things as he referenced,
When it's convenient,
Versus doing things regardless.
And when you begin to really step into the practice of meditation,
Or the practice of mindfulness,
Or the practice of yoga,
This is what it transitions to.
Into a lifestyle that you end up doing regardless.
Whether you're tired,
Whether you're happy,
Whether you're angry,
You're sad,
This is the practice that we keep practicing.
So with this commitment,
Let's begin together.
I want you to pay attention to your breath.
I want you to feel that breath move in and out of your body.
And we don't have to get super descriptive of the breath.
Sometimes as we start to break it down,
We want to box it up.
Let's widen our view of the breath and make it really expansive where we're just recognizing the breath come in and the breath go out.
And when your attention drifts,
As it often does,
Gently,
Gently,
Bring your awareness back to your breath.
Feel the breath move in.
Notice the breath move out.
Feel the breath move in.
Notice the breath move out.
Our job isn't to create judgment around this experience.
Our job isn't to name it good or bad,
But instead to be the witnesser of this breath moving in and the breath moving out.
A few more moments just like this.
Notice where your attention is.
Notice if it's shifted away from this practice.
And just acknowledge that.
Bring it back to the rhythm of the breath.
And then let's take a great big inhale together.
Breathe it in.
And let it go.
Before you shift from this space,
Before you return once again to whatever you were doing,
Or whatever you're about to do,
Make a commitment to yourself.
Make a commitment to return to this practice over and over again.
Let it become part of your lifestyle versus just another hobby.
And see the magic that happens.
When you're ready,
Maybe take a few deeper breaths in and shift the body in a way that feels good.
It might take a breath or two.
It might take a minute or two.
And when you're ready to reenter that space of being wakeful in your room or wherever you find yourself,
You may open the eyes if the eyes are closed.
It may take a big,
Giant stretch.
I will meet you here again very soon.
From my heart to yours.
Namaste.
