Navigating Change

So,

And the topic really is working with the change that all of us are dealing with.

Over the past week,

Two weeks,

It seems like things really just changed so radically,

Then maybe I know I'm just starting to get a chance to like catch up.

Like I think the change is now starting to feel a little bit normal.

Like I think it takes a little time for them to start to feel like it's normal,

But there's definitely a lot of resistance.

I know I've faced in things that I can't do anymore,

At least for the time being,

And I'm sure many of us are having that times 10.

I work from home,

This is pretty normal as far as that goes.

So there's probably so much more change that are happening with all of you that I can only imagine the stress and just the anxiety that that can cause.

And with change,

We really have two ways of looking at it,

Right?

We can be one of those people that are just complaining about why this is terrible,

What's wrong,

What's wrong with the government,

What's wrong with this,

Or we can really work to adapt and see that it is our practice and is in what every spiritual tradition will point us to,

That it's not the circumstances we need to change,

But ourselves.

And so working and really embodying this principle through our practice so we can live that,

We don't have to be determinate upon our circumstances.

So we're going to work through a meditation,

Hopefully that will help us to embody that as we go through today.

So everyone allow yourself to find a comfortable space,

Comfortable seat.

We'll go ahead and wherever you're at,

Feet are on the ground,

Maybe you're on a cushion,

Go ahead and close down your eyes and begin to allow yourself to feel the connection and the support beneath you.

Feel your sits bones on the chair or on the cushion and just sensing if it's soft,

If it's firm,

And then feeling your feet on the ground.

Always helpful in the beginning of our practice to just come into some sense of this is where I'm at,

This is where my physical body is.

I am here.

And from that support,

Kind of find that space to open through our upper body,

Allowing our hips to move up out of our waist and lengthening the sides of your neck.

Go ahead and relax your shoulders and start to soften muscles around the forehead,

Relaxing the muscles around the eyelids and the jaw.

I am here.

Maybe even letting those words kind of settle your body,

Settle your mind.

Just letting things slow down.

Feeling the connection,

Feeling the support beneath you.

We're going to start to bring our awareness into our breath if we haven't gotten there yet.

And as we breathe,

We're going to really notice the changing nature of just our simple round of breath.

Because although it might feel the same,

Each breath is completely new oxygen,

Completely new air that's moving in and out.

So as you breathe and find some space in your body,

See if you can feel that renewal,

Feel that constant flux of change with each inhale that opens up space in your body.

And with each exhale that allows the air to release and yourself to root.

And go ahead and let's take just a minute here to find our own rhythm,

Feel that change.

And then just offering a light smile behind the face.

It's one thing I forgot to note in the beginning is that through this change,

Through this difficulty,

Holding it in a space of kindness towards ourself,

Towards all that we're going through.

So just signifying that light heartedness with just a gentle smile on your face.

And noticing how just that little shift maybe creates some energy in your body.

And then we're going to start to move away from our breath and just start to note sounds that we hear.

And sound is one of the constant,

Constant changes in our awareness.

So just know anything that's coming in.

Right now it's the sound of my voice,

Just any little sound that moves into your awareness.

And getting a grasp of the impermanent nature coming and going of sound.

And then we're going to move this to our bodies.

So just the sensations in our bodies are always changing.

We're always moving to fidget something,

To get more comfortable,

Scratching an itch,

Feeling digestion.

So just sensing your body as a whole and just noticing any little changes that come in.

And then we're going to let that go and together let's all take a conscious,

Smooth breath in and breath out.

And we're going to stay with the body for now but starting to sense the water element that is in our bodies.

Because water is this amazing symbol of adaptability,

Of flow.

It fills whatever container that it's in.

And not only that,

But water finds the lowest places and it brings nourishment there.

And so just like water,

We can adapt,

We can flow,

And we can bring nourishment to places even when others are low or when ourselves are low,

When ourselves are moving through something that's challenging.

So feel the water element in your body.

Now they say,

What,

We're 70% water?

Can you feel where that 70% is?

Feel that nature to flow in yourself.

And allow each breath to create that freedom of flow in you.

And then I'd like you to start scanning back over the past week or two weeks and just noting everything that has changed for you.

And maybe that's plans,

Your job,

Location,

It's normal routine,

Normalcy.

Just noting what has changed.

And seeing if there's anything that's been welcomed.

And especially noting those things that there are some resistance towards.

And go ahead and pick one of those things where you have been feeling some resistance.

And this could be the resistance to change,

But it also could just be resistance or any sort of difficult emotion that you've been kind of grappling with.

And see if you can just feel it in your body and without getting kind of in cerebral cerebrally,

Thinking of it in your head.

See if you can note what that resistance is and just feel it in your body.

It's almost like there's like a dam in the flowing river,

Right?

You can even imagine your body as that flow of a river.

And there's some resistance,

Some blocking it.

And remember holding this in your awareness with some kindness.

It's okay that it's here.

And then while you're holding it,

While you're being aware of it,

We're going to just start to repeat some words to just notice and try and loosen the dam,

Allow that flow to increase.

And so sharing this silently or out loud with yourself,

Whatever you're comfortable with.

I have the tools to be with this.

I am so strong.

By being with this,

I am growing.

I am capable of so much more than I think.

I have the tools to be with this.

I am so strong.

By being with this,

I am growing.

I am capable of so much more than I think.

Allow yourself here to feel both your strength and your ease.

Imagine that flowing river inside of you starting to break down that dam,

Feeling the resistance starting to melt away.

Finding your strength with each breath.

Really embracing yourself for being able to flow with life's challenges.

And together,

Let's take a full breath in and a full breath out.

I'm going to share a quote here by Reinold Neuber.

And that is,

Change is the essence of life.

We must be willing to surrender what we are for what we could become.

So in this force change,

In this new chaos that we entered,

We need more people that are bringing light and bringing nourishment to the low places.

And this idea of bringing light to darkness really reminds me of a prayer that I share or I write,

I speak to myself frequently and that is the prayer of Saint Francis.

I'm just going to offer just a few words from it,

Not the whole prayer,

But I think it really embodies this concept.

So allowing these words to kind of fall like they're your own,

Maybe finding where you can find meaning in them.

Bringing this light into the darkness that we are all facing.

Make me an instrument of peace.

Where there is hatred,

Let me sow love.

Where there is injury,

Pardon.

Where there is doubt,

Faith.

Where there is despair,

Hope.

Where there is darkness,

Light.

And where there is sadness,

Joy.

So with that idea of bringing light to darkness,

Maybe just thinking about what proactive change can you bring and maybe you're already bringing it.

And what can you offer your life in this moment?

And how can you start to become who you're meant to become?

You may not have the answer to this right now and that's okay.

And we're going to set some intentions and just put that energy further out there.

So again,

Repeating this to yourself,

Letting the energy move through your body.

The imagining what this could be.

May I find a way to bring hope?

May I find a way to bring love?

May I find a way to bring light?

May I find a way to bring purpose?

May I find a way to bring strength?

May I find a way to bring joy?

May I find a way to bring peace?

We can move through those one more time.

May I find a way to bring hope?

May I find a way to bring love?

May I find a way to bring light?

May I find a way to bring purpose?

May I find a way to bring strength?

May I find a way to bring joy?

May I find a way to bring peace?

Maybe feeling which one of those feels resonant to you or maybe there's something else that you feel that you'd like to bring.

See yourself making that change or being that light,

Kind of imagining yourself in this more aware,

More evolved,

In a sense this new version.

As we continue to grow and each life circumstance is that opportunity for us to grow into who we're meant to become,

Into who we are deep inside.

Maybe sensing all those people that you will impact when you step into your light.

All those people you're already impacting.

And then letting that go.

And together let's take a full breath in,

A full breath out.

I want us to just work through one last,

One last part here of just holding space for ourselves when we're not going to get this right,

For when we're going to make a mistake or we're going to feel down or depressed,

We're going to resist,

We're going to cry.

Because we're human and that's totally okay.

So just holding space,

Maybe inviting that smile back to your face.

We don't have to be perfect,

Especially in tough times.

You can curl up in our bed.

And so sharing these words of assurance with ourselves.

Whatever I do,

I am loved.

Whatever I do,

I am still so loved.

Maybe just giving yourself that reassurance here for another few moments.

Maybe allowing yourself to sense that changeless nature of you,

That part of us that doesn't change.

And then slowly,

In your own time,

Starting to come back to that sensation of your chair,

And back to just the feeling in your body.

And when you feel complete,

When you feel ready,

You can go ahead and gently open your eyes.

Namaste.