One of the most important things we possess is our knowledge of self.
Knowing who you are,
What you stand for,
And why.
Which you won't stand for.
What moves you and what you hold dear are all integral elements of living an aligned life.
When standing in front of the crossroads between easy or right,
Popular opinion or objective truth,
Your values are what will shape your choices and lead you to what feels right and truthful for you.
Think of your values as a pathway to your wholeness.
For today's practice,
We'll be doing a loving kindness meditation designed to help you anchor into your values as a way to access your sense of wholeness and to help you see the wholeness in others.
Taking a moment to get comfortable,
Sitting,
Standing,
Or choosing a position that feels right to you.
One that helps you strike the balance between feeling relaxed Hit alert.
Once settled,
Give yourself permission to arrive into this time and space you've so graciously carved out for yourself.
Inhaling and silently repeating to yourself.
I am.
.
.
Exhaling and repeating.
Here.
Whenever you're ready,
I invite you to close or lower your eyes.
Allowing you to gently increase your awareness of your breath.
Inhaling.
.
.
And exhaling.
If you can.
.
.
Try increasing your exhales so that they are just a few counts longer than your inhale.
Inhaling for 1.
.
.
2.
.
.
3.
.
.
4.
.
.
Exhaling,
1.
.
.
2.
.
.
3.
.
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4.
.
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5.
.
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6.
.
.
Yes,
Just like that.
Whenever you feel yourself getting swept up in thought.
Lean on your account for support.
Inhaling 1.
.
.
2.
.
.
3.
.
.
4.
.
.
Exhaling 2.
.
.
3.
.
.
4.
.
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5.
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6.
.
.
Notice your thoughts and feelings toward yourself in these moments where you do get swept up in your thoughts.
What are you telling yourself?
Is it reflective of how you'd speak to a friend?
How are you bringing yourself back to your breath?
Is it reflective of how you'd bring a friend back to this moment?
And this one too.
Are the ways you've been thinking about yourself and speaking to yourself and others aligned with your values.
No judging.
No overthinking.
Simply noticing.
With gentle awareness.
The same way you've been noticing your breath.
The Golden Rule asks us to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
This is the basis for treating others the way we would want to be treated.
I encourage you to also treat yourself the way you would want to be treated by others.
Whatever you value,
Whether it be respect.
Fairness,
Compassion,
Honesty,
Or countless others,
First apply that value to yourself and all that you encounter.
Allowing you to move from a place of wholeness with all that matters and feels right to you in tow.
From this place of wholeness.
Allow your values to point you in the direction of how others would like to be treated.
Thereby respecting their values as the keys to their wholeness.
Returning to the breath.
As you breathe,
Repeat to yourself.
.
.
May I be whole.
On your next inhale.
.
.
Picture someone you love dearly.
And say to them,
May you be whole.
Now bring to mind someone you feel neutral about.
Extending them the same kindness.
By wishing them.
May you be whole.
And on your next breath.
To someone whose values seem to conflict with yours.
We say to them also.
May you be whole.
As we prepare to close out.
Returning back to self.
On your next inhale,
Repeat,
I am.
And on your exhale,
Hold.
Breathing into this wholeness.
And inviting gentle movement back into your body whenever you're ready by wiggling your fingers and toes.
Moving in any way that feels most natural to you.
As you transition out of this meditative posture.
I invite you to continue to hold and move.
From an internal posture of values-based wholeness and loving-kindness throughout the rest of your day.
Stay golden,
And remember,
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
And do unto yourself as you'd have others do unto you.
