Welcome to Day 8.
On Day 7 we explored finding strength with others.
Today our focus is finding balance.
Let's begin by taking a few deep grounding breaths into this safe and supportive space.
Relaxing your body wherever you are.
Relaxing your breath.
Breathing in from the nose,
Holding,
And then releasing out through the mouth.
Do this a couple more times.
Today we're going to focus on balance.
The urgency of the climate crisis sometimes leads people to committing themselves to more than they can manage,
And it's important to be realistic about your commitments.
There are several kinds of balance to consider.
Balance knowledge about the seriousness of the climate crisis with knowledge about what can be done.
Once you have this knowledge,
Use it to inform every decision you make.
Integrate it into your life.
Make it flow through your blood,
But don't keep revisiting the bad news.
It's all too easy to get caught up in the echo chambers of distress,
Particularly online where people swap stories of the latest disaster or bring each other down.
Some people confuse knowing about the climate crisis with doing something about it.
Others punish themselves by scaring themselves to the point of being completely frozen.
Focus instead on finding what needs to be done and how you can participate in this.
Balance actions that are about stopping emissions with actions that are about restoration or recreation.
Trying to stop an airport expanding or a new coal mine opening is important work,
But it can also be frustrating and difficult.
Balance this kind of action with actions that bring joy to your soul.
For example,
Taking part in a tree planting project,
Learning to cook vegan meals,
Or cycling and walking instead of driving when you go out for the day.
Move away from thinking in terms of success and failure.
People often want to know whether or not we will succeed in preventing runaway climate change,
But the reality is that although we can see trends and possibilities,
We can't absolutely predict the future.
It will help you psychologically if you can move away from the black and white thinking of win and lose,
Fail or succeed.
Focus instead on what the earth is calling on you to do.
If you do as much as you can do to the best of your ability with all your heart and strength,
Then you can be sure that you are a part of the solution,
However small.
Finally,
Balance your activity on the climate crisis with the rest of your life.
Take time for your family and friends.
Continue to enjoy whatever low carbon activities give meaning and purpose to your life.
Look for humor and laughter,
Excitement and joy.
Embrace the good that life has given you.
For today's practice,
We'll do a love and kindness meditation.
Close your eyes and relax your body.
Get comfortable whether you're lying down or sitting up.
Find a position that is comfortable for you.
Take a deep full breath in and exhale through the mouth.
Allow any sigh or sound that feels necessary to release to release.
Keep repeating this for a few more moments.
Breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth.
Releasing any sound that comes up and desires to be released.
In this relaxed state,
Let's turn inward and focus on your heart space.
Give gratitude and appreciation to yourself in this moment.
Now let's repeat the following phrases.
May I be well.
May I be happy.
May I be at peace.
May I be supported.
May I be loved.
Send and receive the energy of these loving kindness words to every cell in your body.
Envision your body in life embodying these words.
May I be well.
May I be happy.
May I be at peace.
May I be supported.
May I be loved.
Now bring to mind someone who brings warmth,
Comfort and joy to your heart.
Send gratitude and appreciation to this person.
Let's offer the same loving kindness phrases you nourished yourself with to this person and envision them receiving each phrase with joy,
Gratitude and an open heart.
May you be well.
May you be happy.
May you be at peace.
May you be supported.
May you be loved.
May you be well.
May you be happy.
May you be at peace.
May you be supported.
May you be loved.
Bring to mind someone now you have conflict with or a challenging time with while journeying in grace with yourself.
Move through any feelings of resistance that may come up.
And journey in grace with this practice.
Bring this person to mind.
With the same loving kindness,
Let's nourish this person with it.
May you be well.
May you be happy.
May you be at peace.
May you be supported.
May you be loved.
Bring this person receiving each phrase with an open heart,
Joy and gratitude.
May you be well.
May you be happy.
May you be at peace.
May you be supported.
May you be loved.
Now envision a new person,
Group or community in your life that like you cares for the planet and is a great support system to you.
As you're envisioning,
Send gratitude and appreciation through love and kindness to this person or group.
May you be well.
May you be happy.
May you be at peace.
May you be supported.
May you be loved.
Imagine this person or group receiving each phrase with an open heart,
Joy and gratitude.
May you be well.
May you be happy.
May you be at peace.
May you be supported.
May you be loved.
Now sending love and kindness energy to the entire planet and to all beings.
May you be well.
May you be happy.
May you be at peace.
May you be supported.
May you be loved.
Imagine these words reaching all beings and the entire planet.
May you be well.
May you be happy.
May you be at peace.
May you be supported.
May you be loved.
When you are ready,
Open your eyes.
May you be at peace.
May you be good.
Our action step for day eight.
For a week,
Keep a diary listing all the things you have enjoyed which have been carbon neutral,
For example,
Talking with a friend or practicing meditation.
All the climate actions you have taken which have been fun or pleasurable to do.
And all the climate actions that have been difficult or a challenge for you or which you have avoided.
Talk with someone you trust about what you're doing and how to find balance.
Cheers to completing day eight.
Tomorrow we dive together into living with knowledge and intention.
