Mindfulness practice 22,
Choosing to make a difference.
Get comfortable in a seated position.
Breathe.
With your eyes closed or gazed down,
Focus on your inhales and exhales.
Let go of any distractions that come into your awareness.
Focus for a moment on all the ways in which inequities and fear of otherness are fundamental aspects of this society.
Consider how some people are made to feel included and like they belong in most places they go,
And others are systematically excluded,
Made to feel like outsiders.
Consider the consequences of these messages for all of us,
How we benefit in some ways based on certain social identities,
And how we lose based on other social identities.
Breathe in compassion and loving-kindness for the toll it takes on all of us to live in an unfair system.
As you do so,
Make a promise that you will make a difference in this area.
Your actions can contribute to a more compassionate,
Equitable world.
What's at stake is the potential for a full,
Expansive,
Enriching life.
What intention can you set to make a difference?
Sit with that question for a bit and see if your inspired self has a suggestion.
Perhaps you can set the intention of speaking out against homophobia when you see it,
Or learning how to become a better advocate for the homeless,
Or choosing to get involved in the activism in your community around police brutality.
Consider some options.
Maybe there is something you have been meaning to do and right now to live your best life.
You make the commitment to figure out how to make it happen,
Or you make the commitment to do the research on this social issue.
Or maybe you have no idea what direction to go in,
But you know you want to do something.
As you continue to ask the question,
What intention can I set,
Ideas and opportunities will begin to arise.
You you When you're ready,
Take another deep breath and flutter your eyes open.
Stretch your body and take a moment to transition your focus back into the room.
Welcome back.
Feel free to journal now about your experience or about any ideas or insights that arose for you.
