Welcome and I hope that each one of you will come to find peace within yourself.
Today I'd like to talk just a little bit about taking time to love yourself.
Taking time to be kind to yourself.
I've found that in my life many people who are extremely kind to others are seldom kind to themselves.
They do things for partners and children and parents and teachers and neighbors and friends and even their pets.
But they don't think about taking the time to be kind to themselves.
I notice this all around me.
Both of my daughters and the lady who's the love of my life are like this.
They are kind and thoughtful and caring to everyone around them.
Yet they very seldom think about showing the same kindness to themselves.
And before we can truly take care of others,
Before we can show anyone love and kindness,
We first have to be able to show love and kindness to ourselves.
In order to let go and find peace,
In order to spend more time in the present moment,
We have to take time to care for ourselves.
Taking time to be kind to ourselves.
I know that I've been guilty of this in my own life.
Always taking time for everyone else,
But not taking time for myself.
I realize my mistake and I've tried to rectify it.
And that is what each one of you needs to do also.
You have to take time to love yourself.
There are lots of ways that you can show love to yourself.
Just treat yourself to something you've been wanting.
Maybe a candy bar or some new shoes.
You're in the best position to decide what a good treat would be.
At its most basic,
Love is just acceptance.
Accepting someone else,
Be it a person or an animal,
For exactly what they are.
Love is taking someone else at face value,
Accepting all their good points,
But all of their negative things as well.
Love is at its best when it's given,
As you give love to a partner or a child or a beloved pet.
Your life can be better,
However,
If you take the time to love yourself.
You have to accept yourself just as you are.
How can we do that?
Taking time to care for yourself.
Give your body the nourishment and care it needs so you can function at your best.
Do something you like to do,
And without judgment and without worrying about the time.
Maybe most important is to accept yourself for who and what you are.
Don't dwell on any failures from the past.
Past is just that.
It's past.
We have to look at ourselves honestly and with kindness,
And in this moment,
Not based on the past.
It's been said that how you love and care for yourself is how you teach others to love and care for you.
In order to really love and take care of others,
We first have to love and take care of ourselves.
And loving yourself doesn't mean to go out and buy yourself something expensive each time.
It's taking the time to care for yourself.
To listen to what your heart tells you that you need.
A day off,
A massage,
A camping trip,
A hike,
Some time in a canoe,
Whatever it might be to lift you up.
The Buddha once said,
You,
Yourself,
As much as anybody in the entire universe,
Deserve your love and affection.
Wise words.
All of our thoughts expend energy.
They have power,
Power to change us and others.
So make your thoughts count and let them be thoughts of self-love.
Remember,
Words have power and thoughts have power as well.
Please make sure you're in a place where you won't be disturbed and make sure your other devices are silenced.
This is your time.
And you can go back into the world a little later.
Close your eyes now and let's go in search of this moment together.
Just relax.
There's no pressure.
There's no place to go.
Nowhere we have to be.
We are just here looking for love in the best possible place.
It doesn't matter if you're sitting,
Standing or lying down.
What matters is that you're comfortable.
So assume any position where you are comfortable and alert.
Relax your face.
Unclench your jaw and unfurrow your brow.
Relax your neck and your shoulders.
Maybe you'd like to shake out your arms and hands and just let them rest comfortably.
Let your shoulders drop and just let your whole body sag.
Ease any tension out of your chest and belly.
Relax your legs and your feet.
And as you begin to relax,
As you begin to really relax,
Let's start to focus on our breath.
Breathing in,
Breathing out.
One breath at a time.
Our breath is our anchor.
It's there for us in all moments.
And focusing on it can help us to capture the present moment.
One breath at a time.
As you focus on your breath,
Track its movement into your body.
Feel it as it comes in through your nose,
The air moving into you.
Notice the movement of your chest and your belly as this life-giving air moves into you,
Filling you up with energy and vitality.
And then track that breath as it moves out of your body,
Your chest and belly deflating as the air exits.
Just continue to breathe normally and follow each and every breath as you let yourself relax and settle in as we begin this practice.
If it's agreeable to you,
Place one hand over your heart to form a connection as you gently breathe in and breathing out.
One breath at a time.
Take this moment in time to offer love to yourself and do it with no judgment.
Breathe in.
And as you do,
Breathe in love for yourself.
And as you breathe out,
Let go of any tension.
Once more,
Breathing in,
Building this loving feeling.
And as you breathe out,
Just let go.
As we settle deeper into stillness,
Let's set an intention of acceptance.
Accept who and what you are.
Accept the path that your life is on.
And accept that your path is a positive one.
The fact that you are here,
Participating in this practice,
Is a sure sign that you're on the right track.
You're doing things to make your life better.
Acknowledge all of your strengths.
And also acknowledge what you view as your flaws.
We all have them,
Real or imagined.
Some of the things that we view as faults are put on us by others.
Parents or siblings or teachers or friends.
And we need to let those judgments go as well.
Just let them go.
What each one of us needs to know is that we are enough.
We always have been.
We are often hardest on ourselves.
But that doesn't serve us.
If you like,
Whisper to yourself,
I am enough.
You have been and always will be enough.
Now listen carefully to what I say next.
Loving yourself is the beginning of the path that leads to understanding and truly knowing yourself.
Let me say that again.
Loving yourself is the beginning of the path that leads to understanding and truly knowing yourself.
And anything that doesn't serve you,
You need to let it go.
Just continue to follow your breath.
Breathing in and breathing out.
One breath at a time.
I have to admit that the concept of self-love was very hard for me in the beginning.
It's not easy.
At least it wasn't for me to believe that I was enough.
And I know that often it's hard to let go,
Especially of the judgment of others.
So if you're struggling a little bit right now,
That's okay.
It takes time to become accepting of yourself.
But you have to know that you are enough.
I'm still a work in progress,
Just as you are.
But be grateful for all that you are.
Take this moment in time to be kind to yourself.
Loving yourself will help you to be your best self.
At another time,
The Buddha also said,
Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate that which they already have.
Let go of anything that does not serve you.
Let go of old beliefs.
Let go of old judgments about yourself.
Let go of all of it.
Say it again.
I am enough.
I am enough.
Appreciate all that you have and all that you are and all that you can be.
Now,
As we come to a close,
Open your eyes and come back into the room.
Wiggle your fingers and toes and stretch and feel how good it is to be alive.
Take in a deep breath through your nose and let it out through your mouth,
Letting out a sigh.
You're ready to come back into the room,
Ready to resume your day a little calmer and more joyful than before.
The concept of self-love can be hard.
I know it can,
But I also know that you can do it,
Breathing in and breathing out just one breath at a time.
I hope this has been a beneficial and calming session and I'm so honored that you've chosen to spend this time with me.
Take time to be kind to yourself.
Till next time.
