This is a great session to listen to in the morning,
Just after waking up.
Waking up with the sun gives us an amazing opportunity to begin the new day with appreciation.
If you feel safe to do so and haven't already,
Please close down your eyes.
Take a deep breath in,
Invigorating the lungs,
Waking them up and giving your body a nice gentle stretch.
Our thoughts are often scattered first thing in the morning,
Drifting to our responsibilities,
What we're going to have for breakfast,
Our commute,
Our work duties and everything else that takes our attention day to day.
So before the mind wakes up completely this morning,
We're going to create a blank canvas,
Taking in a nice deep cleansing breath and releasing,
Letting it all go.
Clearing the mind of any leftover concerns from yesterday and any stress about the future.
Setting an intention to start fresh today.
Place both hands lightly on your stomach and breathe into them,
Becoming more energized,
More alert,
Aligning yourself with willpower and the attention to start your day in gratitude.
Feel this invigorating energy flow underneath your hands and spread throughout your body.
Continue to hold your hands on the center of the stomach,
Your energy center.
Visualize the sun now,
Imagine it coming up over the horizon,
See it illuminating everything it touches,
Oceans,
The hills,
The grass and your skin.
Feel it touching your body,
Warming it and waking it up.
Hear the birds chirping and the roosters crowing as they greet the sun.
See the flowers opening gratefully,
Tilting towards the light.
Tilt your head up like the flowers drinking in every ounce of sunlight.
Feel it washing over and around you,
Invigorating every part of your body.
Feel the sun illuminating your mind,
Bringing sunny thoughts to it and clearing away the lingering shadows of sleep.
Now let's repeat some positive affirmations to start the day bright.
Taking a deep breath in with a slow exhale,
Then repeat after me,
I am grateful for this day.
Add some emotion to the words by truly feeling the gratitude flow through them,
Not worrying about what your day will look like and letting go of the expectation,
Simply expressing your thanks for waking up today.
I am grateful for this day.
Feeling gratitude flow through you as you breathe easily and enjoy this wonderful moment of pure appreciation.
I am grateful for my body.
Feel appreciation moving through each body part as you say it again,
I am grateful for my body.
Feeling it deep within your muscles and bones as you continue to repeat,
I am grateful for my body.
I am grateful for my mind,
Expressing thanks for your beautiful,
Unique,
Brilliant mind.
I am grateful for my mind.
Feel appreciation move throughout your head and your mind as you continue to repeat,
I am grateful for my mind.
I am grateful for everything I will experience today.
Say this again with strong conviction,
I am grateful for everything that I will experience today.
Good or bad,
Every experience makes us who we are.
Welcome the highs and the lows alike,
Knowing that everything is a lesson.
Every experience is an opportunity for growth.
Hold appreciation in your awareness as you continue to repeat,
I am grateful for everything that I will experience today.
Now you may choose a new affirmation to repeat,
Beginning with the words,
I am grateful for,
And ending with the words of your choice.
Anything that you could return to throughout your day for inspiration and a dose of gratitude.
When you have your affirmation,
Continue to repeat it as you're breathing deeply into the core of your body,
Deep inhales and slow exhales.
Once again,
Holding appreciation in your awareness.
Now repeat your own affirmations of gratitude.
As we begin to close out this meditation,
Consider who you could express gratitude towards today.
Who has done something that has made you feel loved,
Supported,
Or simply made you happy recently?
How can you express your gratitude towards them?
Now sit up straight,
Give your body another long stretch,
Extending the arms,
Reaching your fingers towards the sky.
Extending your legs and wiggling your toes,
Allowing your breath to return to an easy natural rhythm.
As we close out today's meditation,
Remember that you are now carrying gratitude with you every step of the way today.
