Today I want to talk about mental chatter and the impact it has on being in the present moment.
I was recently traveling in the car with my daughter and I was once again reminded of a subtle whisper of insight to the importance of meditation in my life.
The moment of realization and insight was around the intensity of my mental chatter when I am not present nor engaged in the present moment.
My daughter and I were having a conversation and several minutes after the conversation was over,
My brain comes back to the topic,
Still dwelling and focusing on it the entire time.
In my mind the topic is still open for discussion but to my family these random comments are confusing and unclear.
My statements many minutes after the fact are my reminder of how my mind does not shut off and how I have lost sight of the present moment.
I am also one of those people that comes up with quote unquote fantastic comebacks way after the fact and far too late for anyone,
Especially my family,
To appreciate the statement.
This is certainly one of my life lessons on this meditation journey and I am grateful every day about how these insights and reminders help to strengthen my practice and how they reiterate the importance of the practice.
I need to remember that it is a practice and it takes practice.
So let us explore being aware in the present moment together.
I will now take you through a guided meditation and at the end of the meditation you will hear a soft bell.
It is important to come out of the meditation slowly and take your time.
There is no rush.
I will be here guiding you through the entire process.
The theme of this meditation is awareness.
Mindfulness is about engaging your attention in the present moment on what you are experiencing without judgment.
Let us center our attention and bring awareness to the present moment.
Let us center our attention on awareness.
Explore this meditation with mindful curiosity as you become mindful of your body,
Mindful of your environment,
Mindful of gratitude.
And as you maintain a gentle present moment focus.
Start by finding a comfortable position.
Let us settle into our breath.
Placing your feet flat on the ground with your hands laying comfortably in your lap.
Or if you are sitting on a cushion find a comfortable position with your hands resting comfortably in your lap.
Closing your eyes if you prefer and become present,
Aware and relaxed in this moment.
Observe the sensations of the body and notice what you are thinking.
Settle into your awareness.
Settle into your thoughts.
As you become more relaxed notice the chatter of your mind starting to quiet.
When your mind wanders come back to your breath in this present moment.
Being mindful of anything getting in your way.
Release any tension you notice.
Letting go of anything that might be getting in the way of you being here in this present moment.
Letting it go on the exhale breath.
Remembering it's okay to have thoughts and when a thought occurs simply notice the thought without judgement.
And then simply let the thought go on the exhale breath.
Allowing each area of your body to settle into the breath.
Explore the sensations in your body mindfully with awareness and without judgement.
Let us practice stillness and awareness.
Mindfully engaging your attention in the present moment on what you are experiencing without judgement.
For this meditation let us welcome everything and simply let go of any expectations.
At any point during this meditation if your mind starts to wander simply come back to your breath as an anchor of focus.
Or come back to the sound of my voice.
At any point during this meditation if your mind starts to wander simply state silently to yourself what the thought is without judgement.
For example if your mind wandered to the past simply state silently past and come back to your breath as an anchor of focus.
If your mind wandered to planning simply state silently planning and come back to your breath as an anchor of focus without judgement.
If your mind wandered to the future simply state silently future and come back to your breath as an anchor of focus.
In this present moment come back to your awareness.
Remembering to be kind to yourself.
We will take the next few moments in silence giving you the opportunity to continue to focus your breath as you mindfully maintain a gentle present moment focus.
Let us explore awareness with curiosity.
I will keep track of the time as we take these moments of silence together.
Let us explore awareness with curiosity.
Let us explore awareness with curiosity.
Let us explore awareness with curiosity.
Let us explore awareness with curiosity.
Let us explore awareness with curiosity.
Let us explore awareness with curiosity.
Let us explore awareness with curiosity.
Let us explore awareness with curiosity.
Let us explore awareness with curiosity.
Let us explore awareness with curiosity.
Let us explore awareness with curiosity.
Let us explore awareness with curiosity.
Let us explore awareness with curiosity.
Let us explore awareness with curiosity.
Let us explore awareness with curiosity.
Let us explore awareness with curiosity.
