This is Louise Houghton with Stardust Wellness.
Welcome to this evening gratitude meditation.
A beautiful way to end your day on a positive note,
Cultivating a sense of appreciation and contentment that can lead to a restful and peaceful night's sleep.
Find a quiet and comfortable space where you won't be disturbed.
If it feels so aligned,
I invite you throughout this session to journal and make notes of your gratitude from the day.
If you prefer to think the thoughts and allow yourself to lay in your bed,
It's also a wonderful way to drift off to sleep with the peace and comfort of the happiness that you found in your day.
So let's begin by closing our eyes,
Arriving in the space and taking a moment to scan the body to notice any areas of tension or discomfort.
And as you exhale,
Release any tightness or stress you may be holding on to.
With every breath,
Feel your body becoming lighter and more at ease.
Taking note now of any sounds you can hear outside the room.
Noticing them,
Acknowledging them and letting them pass.
And shifting your attention now to sounds within the room.
Maybe your own breath,
Any fans and again,
Allowing yourself to notice them acknowledge them and let them be just as they are.
As we turn our attention inward,
Not only might you notice the rise and fall of your chest,
The feeling of the hairs in your nostrils as you breathe in and out,
But we start to reflect on the day,
To think back on all the moments from when you woke up until now.
While there are many experiences,
Interactions and moments that happened throughout the day,
Be mindful of both the positive and the challenging aspects.
I invite you to focus on one thing that you can begin to express gratitude for,
Something that you are thankful for today.
You might like to start with a simple thing like the air that you breathe,
The food you ate or the bed that you'll sleep in tonight.
Feel genuine appreciation for these basic blessings,
For we need a good grounding to feel stable and grow from each day.
Think about the people you interacted with today,
Consider the support,
Kindness or even the lessons you received from these interactions.
Take note of one person and express gratitude for the connection in your life,
Both big and small.
Next,
I invite you to reflect on your accomplishments today,
No matter how small they may seem.
Did you complete a task,
Learn something new or make progress towards a goal?
Acknowledge and appreciate your efforts and your achievements.
I invite you now to recall any moments of happiness,
Laughter or joy that you experienced today.
Allow yourself to relive these moments in your mind,
Savouring the positive emotions they brought you.
How did they feel in your body?
How can you carry that feeling of joy with you to the next day?
And now consider any challenges or difficulties that you face today.
Instead of dwelling on the negative aspect,
Focus on the lessons and personal growth that may have come from these experiences.
Express gratitude for the opportunities to learn and grow.
And if any challenge is still with you right now,
Lean in to the other aspects of gratitude from this meditation,
Knowing that that challenging moment,
That challenging feeling,
Will pass.
And with that,
I invite you to set intentions for tomorrow.
As you continue to breathe,
Set positive intentions for the days ahead.
Take note of one particular thing that you want to achieve tomorrow.
One particular person that you want to reach out to tomorrow and connect with.
And one particular feeling of joy,
Happiness or laughter that will give yourself a base for the day ahead.
Imagine yourself moving through your day with a sense of appreciation and contentment.
And as we close this meditation,
I invite you to smile.
To allow the endorphins that come from a smile to wash over your body,
To fill your body with joy and happiness and gratitude for everything that this day has brought you and everything that will present itself tomorrow.
Take a few deep breaths,
Inhaling the gratitude,
Inhaling and feeling again the feelings that you felt when you noted the gratitude from the day.
Exhaling any remaining tension or worries and feeling a sense of peace and contentment wash over you.
From this calm place of gratitude,
Allow your body to feel relaxed as you get comfortable in your bed and drift off to sleep.
