Welcome to Divine Choices with Meg.
It's easy to get overwhelmed by the stresses of everyday life.
In today's practice,
We're going to focus on starting our day with being grateful.
As Maya Angelou said,
This is a wonderful day.
I've never seen this one before.
So find yourself a comfortable position,
Whether you're still lying in bed or you're in your favorite meditation spot.
Get comfortable,
Get cozy.
Move around until you find that spot.
Let your shoulders drop.
Relax your jaw.
Relax your hands.
I find for myself,
When I'm cozy and comfortable,
It is easier for me to get into that deep meditative state.
So let's get started.
Let go of whatever happened yesterday,
Whatever might be on your to-do list for today.
Take this time for you.
Close your eyes or lower your gaze and go within.
We're going to start by taking a few deep breaths and long exhales,
Like you're blowing through a straw.
Deep breath in,
One,
Two,
Three,
Four.
Hold,
And blow it out like you're blowing through a straw.
Let all the air go.
Take another deep breath in,
Fill your lungs all the way up,
And hold for just a few seconds,
And then blow out everything like you're blowing through a straw.
Let it all go.
Our day begins with our thoughts and the things we do when we open our eyes.
When we're first waking up,
Do you find yourself grabbing for your phone,
Maybe to look at your email,
Our social accounts,
And then you see that email or that post that maybe gets your heart racing?
How we start our day sets the tone for our day.
It can put you in a fight or flight,
Which sets your day up to be more reactive.
It's just like that saying,
Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed?
We get to choose how we start our day and starting our day with being grateful and thinking about things that are going right before you start your day versus things that you have to do,
Like looking at your email or things you want to do,
Like looking at your social media.
If you take a few minutes when you first wake up while you're still in bed to pause and notice and appreciate at least three things you can already be grateful for,
This can have a profound effect and change on your day.
Now put your hand on your heart and take a deep breath in and a slow breath out.
What are you grateful for?
Life itself is a gift.
Before you do anything,
Take that three to five minutes to think about what are you grateful for?
I'm alive.
My lungs are working.
They're people I love.
I can feel cool air on my skin.
The cozy bed I have to sleep in.
My partner next to me or my beloved pet.
My heart that is beating on its own.
Consider the things you don't even think about that we all rely on.
Electricity.
Wi-Fi.
Clean water.
Warm water and the shower.
Or how about just your car starting when you need to leave for the day?
Gratefulness doesn't reserve itself only when things are good or good things are happening or we get what we want.
Gratefulness upon waking is a simple way to say thank you.
For the things that we don't always think about.
Every moment,
No matter what happens,
I know there is something to be thankful for.
By simply being alive,
We are always receiving.
With your hands still on your heart,
What are you grateful for today?
Take a moment to think about three simple things that you're grateful for.
They don't have to be big things.
I am grateful for you for taking the time to join me and do something for yourself.
Return to this meditation daily to start a new habit of waking up grateful before you even get out of bed.
This is a wonderful day.
I have never seen this one before.
Thank you for showing up for yourself today.
And until next time,
Namaste.
