Hello and welcome to today's meditation.
My name is Diane.
Today we will focus on the quality of gratitude.
So find a comfortable place to sit or lie down.
Take a big inhale and exhale.
Close your eyes.
And again,
Take a deep breath in and let it go.
Gratitude can be difficult to practice.
We sometimes feel shame for feeling grateful as the world seems so unfair to so many.
Gratitude is a practice for everyone and often the happiest humans are those who have the least because they do not have the luxury to take anything for granted.
Our greatest power is to say,
I have enough.
I am enough.
Our greatest power is to see all that we have and all that we are.
In our ability to feel grateful lies our power to give,
Share,
And be there for others.
Being grateful is not self-serving.
In gratitude lies also our power to put into perspective our lives and end the internal tug-of-war between grasping and aversion.
It puts an end to wanting more or thinking things will be better in the future and connect with the present.
Take a deep breath in and exhale.
Gratitude is acknowledging that those things can be hard.
Parts of the body hurt.
Some feelings are unpleasant.
If you connect long enough with the present,
You realize that some things are easy.
Most places in the body are not hurting and there are always good feelings to focus on.
Take a deep breath in and exhale.
Let's begin.
Bring your attention to your body.
You might experience some aches and some pains.
Maybe some parts prevent you from doing some things.
Perhaps things that you love.
But what about everything else?
Focus on all the parts of your body that are not hurting,
That are not aching.
Parts that you often don't think about,
For those exact reasons.
Focus on all the parts that allow you to do so many things.
Name them.
Focus on all the parts that allow you to do so many things.
Feel the joy.
The joy of being able to do all these things.
As simple as some might be.
As complex as others might be.
Feel the joy of being able to do it.
Take a deep breath in and exhale.
Now bring your attention to the people in your life that you love,
That love you.
And the good moments you had with them.
Think about every time they have been here for you.
Every time they will be here for you.
Feel the joy.
The smiles.
The laughter.
The love.
Your life is unimaginable without them.
Even if they no longer are with us.
Feel that.
Feel the joy.
Take a deep breath in and exhale.
Now bring your attention to an obstacle you have overcome.
Feel your new found strength.
Feel the pride.
You would not be the person you are right now.
Without that obstacle.
There are no limits to how much you can overcome.
Feel that.
Finally,
Bring your attention to this world.
I know how badly we want to focus on all the things that are wrong with it.
But it is not all that there is.
Think about the changes that are happening.
Think about all the people that are there for others.
Those who sacrifice their lives for others.
Those who consider the health of others.
Think about what you have brought to this world.
Think about all that you can bring to this world.
Take a deep breath in and exhale.
This is you right now.
Grateful for it all and ready to give,
Share,
Help and rise from the deep awareness of this moment.
Take a deep breath in and exhale.
Hold on to that gratitude.
Open up your eyes.
Look around you with this newfound perspective.
I wish you to have a beautiful day.
Namaste.
