Welcome.
Thank you for joining me today to practice together.
Today we're going to explore a practice that helps us to mold our mindset,
To help us focus on what we need and what we want more of in our life.
Positive mindset practice is not about only believing in the positive things that the practice focuses on.
It's not denying other things that might be true,
Even when these things might be in direct contrast with what we're bringing our attention to.
It's not about lying to ourselves or fooling ourselves into believing anything.
It's just simply saying,
Okay,
We're going to focus our attention here on these ideas,
On these concepts for right now,
And help foster those ideas,
Develop them more.
So positive mindset practice isn't a case where you already need to feel positive to do it.
You're working towards it.
And in this way,
This type of practice is a lot like tending seeds in a garden.
We are not pretending that there aren't a bunch of weeds in the garden,
Too.
We're just watering and fertilizing and tending the particular seeds that we want to grow.
We're just ignoring the others for right now.
We're fostering these positive thoughts,
Intentions,
Beliefs,
And desires in our life,
Rather than focusing on the negative stuff,
Or even on the neutral stuff.
So if as we practice,
Something feels not quite true to you,
Or not quite right,
Just notice that feeling coming up.
Acknowledge that the thought is there,
The feeling is there.
And just remember that you're here to water these seeds that you want to grow,
Even if they haven't even sprouted yet.
So let's take a few rounds of deeper breath together as we start to transition into this period of practice.
And allowing each inhale to be a little more full than the last.
And each exhale a little bit deeper.
Remembering that everything offered in this practice is just that.
It's an offering.
It's not a requirement or a demand.
There's no right or wrong way.
So take what works.
Don't force what doesn't work for you.
I just invite you to explore this practice with curiosity.
Allowing the breath to slow down a little bit more.
Allowing the physical body to soften.
And maybe allowing the eyes to close if it feels right to you.
If the eyes are going to remain open,
Just noticing if there are any areas that are holding on to tension.
See if there's any holes in the body that are holding on to tension.
And if there are any areas that are holding on to tension,
See if there's any holding that can release.
As we sit with these deeper breaths and this softer physical body,
Just bringing into awareness desire and a commitment to shift into a positive mindset.
Even if it's just for this short period of practice.
Breathing in together and as you breathe out,
Letting go of any negativity that may be present.
Inhaling.
And as you exhale,
Letting go of any stress.
Inhale.
Exhale,
Letting go of any anxiety.
Inhale.
Exhale,
Releasing fear.
Questioning.
And as you exhale,
Letting go of any anxiety.
Inhaling.
Exhale,
Releasing any negative self-talk.
Inhale.
Exhaling,
Letting go of whatever else is holding you back.
Noticing here,
What is it for you that's holding you back?
What are the roadblocks that you've been encountering?
What is a part of your life that's maybe no longer serving you?
Taking another three or four rounds of breath to notice what these things are for you today.
And exhale and release those things that aren't needed anymore.
And as you take your next inhale,
Repeat either to yourself or aloud,
Today is a great day.
Releasing as you exhale.
Inhaling,
I am vibrant and healthy.
Releasing as you exhale.
I am enough exactly as I am.
I am confident.
I am learning and growing all the time.
I am motivated to reach my goals.
I am inspiring and have a positive impact on the people I come into contact with every day.
I am learning from the challenging experiences in my life.
I am learning from the challenges in my life.
I am intelligent and focused.
I am knowledgeable and deserving of respect.
I use challenges as opportunities to learn and to grow.
I am constantly growing and evolving into a better version of me.
I accept and love myself for who I am.
I am worthy of love and affection.
I am deserving of compassion and care.
I belong in this world and I am loved for who I am.
I am cared for by others.
I have made mistakes but they don't define me.
I do the best I can with what I have in each moment.
I am enough just as I am.
Taking a deep breath in.
Expanding the ribcage,
The chest,
The collarbones,
And a long slow deep exhale.
Really basking in any of the words or phrases that resonated for you.
Soaking it up,
Noticing how something that resonates makes you feel.
We'll take one last deep inhale together here as we prepare to transition out of this period of practice.
As you exhale,
Noticing where the body is in contact with whatever surfaces it's touching.
Slowly expanding the attention to feel into the space around you.
A little further into the room that you're in.
And as the very last thing,
If the eyes have been closed,
Allowing them to gently open or to start to focus the gaze if the eyes have stayed open.
Allowing some clarity to come back to your visual field.
And thank yourself for showing up for you today and for working on cultivating a positive mindset.
And thank you for practicing with me.
