Welcome,
And I hope that each one of you will come to find peace within yourself.
Today,
I want to talk a little bit about disappointment,
And this meditation is based on the live session I did on this subject on November 19th.
Disappointment is something we all experience.
It's just a natural response when our expectations or our hopes are unmet,
When the things we want we don't get.
And while it can feel discouraging or sometimes even painful,
It's also an opportunity for growth and reflection,
And we all experience it.
It's the job that you really wanted but didn't get.
It's the person that you wanted to go on a date with and they said no.
Or it's the house you wanted to buy and somebody beat you to it.
And you know we experience disappointment from an early age.
It's that toy we wanted for Christmas that we didn't get,
Or the bike that we wanted that was too expensive,
Or it's wanting to have a sleepover and your mom says no.
But you know sometimes disappointment can shift our perspective and that leads us to new paths or ideas that we hadn't considered before.
It can be a catalyst for positive change and innovation.
And often disappointment forces us to re-evaluate the situation,
To make another long look at the options.
And close your eyes now,
And let's get in touch with our breath.
As always,
It doesn't matter if you're sitting,
Standing,
Or lying down,
Or kicked back in your favorite recliner.
The only thing that really matters when you meditate is that you're comfortable and alert.
So first let's scan our body.
Relax your face,
Unfurl your brow,
And unclench your jaw.
Relax your neck and your shoulders,
Common places for tension in today's world.
Look for any tension in your chest and belly and let it go.
Relax your arms and your hands and feel yourself getting heavier with each and every breath.
Relax your legs and your feet and as you begin to relax,
Let's focus even more on our breath.
Our breath is like a river as it flows in and flows out.
Just inhale slowly and gently exhale,
And notice your breath as it flows in.
Notice where you feel it in your body,
A cool sensation in your nostrils as the breath flows in,
Or the movement of your chest and belly as the breath flows in and flows out.
Our breath is our anchor.
It's here for us in all moments.
Just continue to breathe at your normal pace and don't force anything.
Just let your breath flow like a river,
Sure and tranquil and calm.
Just continue to breathe at your own pace and listen to my voice.
Sometimes the disappointment is a good thing.
Often we find that the thing we wanted so badly wasn't really what we needed,
Or that the person we really wanted to be with turned out to be not very nice.
And it's essential to recognize and accept our feelings rather than suppress them.
This acceptance is a first step towards moving past your disappointment.
It can teach us about our desires and expectations,
And by examining what went wrong or why we didn't get what we wanted,
We can gain valuable insights into ourselves and into our circumstances.
Here I'm going to pause for a minute so you can just breathe and think,
And I'll be back in a minute.
Facing our disappointment can help to build resilience.
Overcoming setbacks helps us develop the strength and the adaptability needed to navigate life's challenges.
I have a couple quotes,
You know I love quotes.
Nelson Mandela said,
The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling,
But in rising every time we fall.
And an anonymous person said,
Don't blame people for disappointing you.
Blame yourself for expecting too much from them.
Disappointment leads to personal growth and deeper understanding.
Now focus even more on your breath and notice the rhythm of your inhales and exhales.
And as you breathe,
Imagine that you're inhaling calmness and clarity.
And as you breathe out,
Visualize releasing any tension or negativity.
Visualize a safe place.
Imagine a place where you feel completely safe and at peace.
It can be a real place or a place that you create in your mind.
It could be a serene beach,
A cozy room,
A tranquil forest.
And just let yourself fully immerse in this place,
Feeling its calming presence.
Now while you sit in your calming place,
I'm going to go for a minute so you can just breathe and think and sit in this calming area and I'll be back.
Now as you sit and breathe in your calm place,
Acknowledge your disappointment.
If you can,
Bring to mind the source of your disappointment.
Allow yourself to feel the emotions associated,
But without judgment.
And just recognize it's okay to feel this way.
Everyone experiences disappointment and it's a natural part of life.
Now as you continue to breathe,
Imagine the disappointment as a dark cloud within your body.
And with each exhale,
You see this cloud slowly dissolving and dissipating.
Feel the heaviness lifting,
Replaced by a sense of lightness and relief.
And reflect on this moment.
Consider what you can learn from this experience.
What did this disappointment teach you about your expectations,
Your desires,
Or the situation itself?
Embrace it as an opportunity for growth and self-awareness.
Now if you feel willing,
I'd like you to repeat some positive affirmations.
I'll say each one twice and you can say it out loud or to yourself.
I acknowledge my disappointment and release it with compassion.
I acknowledge my disappointment and release it with compassion.
I am resilient and capable of moving forward.
I am resilient and capable of moving forward.
This experience is a stepping stone to greater understanding.
This experience is a stepping stone to greater understanding.
Now as we continue to breathe,
Take a moment to express gratitude for this opportunity to reflect and grow and appreciate the resilience you've shown and the insights you've gained.
Let's just continue to breathe,
Breathing in and breathing out,
One breath at a time.
And 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.
How good it is to be in this moment.
How good it is to be here in this present moment.
And I hope that you can carry this sense of calm and resilience with you as you move forward.
I hope it's been a calming session and take your time and remember that every disappointment is an opportunity for self-discovery and growth.
Till next time.
