Take in three long,
Deep breaths.
And as you exhale,
Allow yourself to feel your body and mind relax more and more,
Becoming more still,
More tranquil.
Imagine every breath bringing you into a state of ease,
Tranquility,
And relaxation while staying fully alert,
Yet more and more relaxed in your body.
Releasing,
Releasing into the stillness of your breath and into this moment.
Nowhere to go,
Nothing to do.
Simply listening to the sound of my voice.
I'd like you to begin to look at your life as it is right now and think of the things for which you are grateful.
Let's begin with your home,
The place that you currently reside,
No matter how big or small.
Notice how it supports you and keeps you warm and shelters you from the cold.
In your mind's eye,
I'd like you to walk in the front door of your house or apartment and lovingly move from room to room,
Blessing each room,
Saying thank you.
Take a new look at what fills your rooms,
The furniture,
The paintings,
The colors,
The energy that fills your home and makes it yours.
Bless it all.
Notice what you really love about it and notice what you might want to change and open yourself up to the possibilities of this.
Remember setting intentions while in full appreciation of what is there now.
Now think about the supports in your life,
The people who love you just the way you are and how you can love them just the way they are.
Your partner,
Your parents,
Your children,
Grandparents,
Grandchildren,
Siblings,
Nieces,
Nephews,
Neighbors and special friends.
And colleagues,
Say a silent thank you for the richness you feel because of their presence in your life.
Perhaps you have a mentor or a teacher,
Past or present,
Who has believed in you,
Who's given you the loving support you needed to go the next steps,
Either in kind words or deeds.
Acknowledge these people in your heart now.
Now reflect on the work you do.
What skills and talents do you bring to your work?
What is your work?
What is it teaching you?
And who are the people who are there with you?
Bless each one of them and say thank you to your work for it is helping you also to pay the bills and giving you a wonderful opportunity to contribute.
Do you do volunteer work?
How is this act of giving honoring you?
Who are the people involved?
Bless them,
Bless yourself.
Give thanks for this opportunity to give and receive in this loving way.
Do you have a pet or pets?
How do your pets enrich your life?
Breathe in the joy and the delight of this.
Say a silent thank you to them for their innocence and loving nature.
Yes,
Loving you unconditionally.
Love them for their open and tender hearts,
For the comfort they bring you again and again.
Now think about nature,
The places of beauty that constantly gift you and bring you home to yourself.
It is in nature that you resonate with the part of yourself that is pure beingness.
Here you do not strive or hunger for anything.
Instead your heart is open wide as you walk through the forest or listen to the sounds of the songbirds or watch a sunrise or a sunset.
Do you have a favorite place in nature that you like to go,
A place where your spirit feels at home?
If so,
Imagine yourself back there right now with all your senses fully awake and alive.
Give yourself ample time to enjoy this experience.
This is another one of God's greatest gifts to us,
The ability to use our imaginations and in this case to go back to a time and a place to recreate an experience of love and joy and inner serenity.
Now think about yourself.
What God-given talents and gifts do you have and express in the world?
Do you have an appreciation for art,
Music,
Dance,
Laughter,
Creativity?
Give thanks for the ability to enjoy these things and consider too the random acts of kindness you have given to others and that you too have received.
Next,
How does your spiritual life feed you?
Are you noticing the synchronistic events that are at play?
When the phone rings as you think of someone you love and there they are?
Or the money coming in just when you wondered how it ever would?
The book that someone lent you ages ago just said,
Fed you exactly what you needed to hear to inspire and uplift you.
This is you in divine co-creation with the Creator.
There are no accidents.
Breathe in the glory of this.
So now consider all the things in your life that you have to be grateful for.
Living life with an attitude of gratitude brings joy,
Love and abundance into your life.
Love begets love.
Joy begets joy.
Gratitude begets gratitude.
And breathe that in.
Know that there are so many things that we can appreciate every single day but sometimes we do not.
But now you can.
You can just start again noticing all that you already have and be thankful.
So whenever you're ready in your own time you can gently open your eyes,
Wiggle your hands and toes,
Stretch your arms up to the sky with a smile on your face.
Set your timer for 10 minutes and write where you are.
