Taking Time To Just Be

Sometimes we are so busy Doing that we don't stop to take the time to just Be. Taking a moment for exactly what it is, with no judgment. Our lives can be enriched if every so often we take a moment in time to Just Be. Music by Chris Collins. #17

Transcript

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 taking time to just be.

Too often we're so busy doing this or doing that,

That we don't take time to just be as we go through our day.

Throughout our lives,

Each one of us has multiple roles that we play.

Being a son or daughter to our parents,

Being a brother or sister to our siblings,

Being a wife or husband to a partner.

During our lives we all have times when we're the student and other times when we're the teacher.

And it seems that no matter what role we're in,

We're always busy.

We're always rushing.

We're always doing.

And it's infinitely better if every so often we can just be.

The ancient philosopher Lao Tzu said,

Search your heart and see the way to do is to be.

Think about that.

One of the premises of mindfulness is that by doing less,

We're being more.

Each one of you has made the conscious decision,

The conscious choice to meditate.

To invest time in slowing down and following your breath.

To invest in finding the present moment.

Those of us who practice meditation believe that doing so nurtures us.

That it enriches our body and our soul.

Most of us would agree that the periods when we slow down and breathe lead us to be more centered,

More calm,

And very often more creative as well.

I think when we stop doing,

We tend to listen more.

We tend to reflect more on circumstances.

Taking time to just be in the long run makes us more effective when we do.

Close your eyes now.

Let's begin to just be.

It doesn't matter if you're sitting,

Lying down or standing.

Just allow your breath flow naturally.

Breathing in,

Breathing out.

And as you breathe,

Just observe each breath.

See how your body just naturally breathes in and breathes out.

Just observe your breath.

No need to control it or regulate it.

Just let your body do what it does while you watch.

Relax your face.

Unclench your jaw and unfurl your brow.

Relax your neck.

Maybe you'd like to shake out your arms and hands and just let them rest comfortably.

Let your shoulders drop and let your body sag.

Just get comfortable.

Ease any tension in your chest or your belly.

And as you begin to relax,

Let's really focus on our breath.

As we continue to breathe,

Feel the relaxation flow through your body.

Breathing in and breathing out,

One breath at a time.

If you notice thoughts entering your mind,

Don't worry or make any judgments.

Simply observe the thoughts.

Let each thought pass across your mind and then let it go.

Your thoughts are like clouds in the sky or like a wave on a lake.

You don't need to do anything but observe with no judgment.

Let them pass away while you simply observe.

Our breath is our anchor and it provides us with life and energy.

It sometimes helps if you can visualize the energy flowing into you as you breathe in.

The in-breath is full of power and energy and life and as you breathe,

It fills you up.

Try to see this positive energy flowing into your body.

And with each out-breath,

Visualize anything negative flowing out,

Out on the current of your breath.

Let any negative thoughts or feelings pass out of you with each and every breath.

This is the time to let go of anything that doesn't serve you.

And if you feel agreeable to it,

Place a hand over your heart and feel the life-giving energy flow in and feel everything that's negative flowing out.

And again,

If you feel comfortable doing it,

Repeat some positive affirmations to help cement this feeling.

I am enough.

I am strong.

I am centered.

I am grateful.

I am loved.

And say anything that you feel compelled to say in this moment.

Just continue to breathe at your own pace and don't force anything.

This moment to just be is yours and yours alone.

If you've listened to my lessons,

You know that I advocate getting in touch with your breath many times throughout your day.

And I've said the turning point for me was when I stopped thinking of meditation as something I did and came to regard it as something I was.

What did I mean by that?

When most people decide to try mindfulness and meditation,

They tend to look at it like a task,

Something to put on your to-do list or your calendar.

Like Friday,

Get dog food,

Call the dentist,

PTA meeting,

Oh,

And meditate.

And I found that as long as you look at it as something to be checked off on your to-do list,

It tends to stay as just something that you do,

Like taking out the trash on Mondays.

So if meditation is just something you do once a day or three times a week,

Its true benefits will always elude you.

When everything changed for me was when I made the conscious decision to make meditation an integral part of my life.

How did I do that?

By taking advantage of the pauses in my day,

The times in everyone's day when you have the opportunity to just be.

Time that would normally be wasted if you didn't take advantage of it.

And we all have so many times like this throughout our day,

Like getting in touch with your breath when you first wake,

While you're sitting in a doctor's waiting room,

While you're waiting for a friend in your car,

While you're sitting on hold with tech support,

And many,

Many other times throughout the day.

Learning to just be means taking advantage of a moment for exactly what it is.

It's altering your perception of a moment.

To view a moment as something precious instead of viewing it as something wasted.

To view the rainbow in the shower rather than the soggy shoes.

To make a moment that might have been wasted,

To look at the beauty and complexity of a flower.

To view every day as something special rather than a day that's stormy or overcast.

Taking time to just be means taking the time to listen to the world around you,

Listen to the people around you,

To listen to the music in a rainstorm.

Learning to let go and to just be are points along the same path.

Right down the road from finding the present moment and in searching for one,

You can find the others.

To quote Morpheus from the Matrix,

There's a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.

Each and every one of you is walking the path and with practice,

You will come to know the path as well.

I've said this before,

But I'm still a work in progress just as you are.

Be grateful for all that you are.

Take this moment in time to just be and in the process be kind to yourself.

Letting go of anything that does not serve you.

Letting go of old beliefs and old judgments about yourself.

Let go of it all.

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,

To be in this moment.

Take in a deep breath and let it out through your mouth,

Letting out a sigh.

You're ready to move back into your day,

A little calmer,

A little more joyful than before.

I hope that this has been a beneficial and calming session and I've loved sharing this moment with each and every one of you.

Until next time.

Reviews

That was so calming and reassuring, Michael. Knowing the path vs walking the path are different things. I bow to you 🙏🏽☀️🤗🩷

Ahhh thank you for this inspiring meditation to simply and full-heartedly be!

I have no idea what my life would now be like if I hadn’t started meditating.

Beautiful meditation, lovely calming voice,and so true. Its so good to come back to the breath,and there are si many times in the day,that it can be done.🙏Namaste and thankyou Michael ❤

You truly speak the words of wisdom.I am going through a very difficult time in my life just now, your words are helping me , Meditation is very much part of my life and has been for the last 7 years. It has helped me deal with my disability, not depending on strong medication. It gives me presence of mind. Your words are refreshing and wise.