You've made it here.
The world will wait.
Right now,
Nothing matters but breath.
Your first breath of the day.
Close your eyes,
If you haven't already.
Let your shoulders drop.
Feel the weight of your body grounded,
Supported,
Safe.
Now take one deep inhale with me.
Through the nose.
Let the chest expand.
Hold it for a moment.
Exhale slowly through the mouth.
Hold it for a moment.
Good.
Do it again.
Inhale,
Feel air filling your chest,
Your belly.
Exhale,
Let tension drain from your shoulders,
Your face,
Your hands.
This is your first breath.
Let it be your first breath.
Let it mean something.
Let it be your vow.
Inhale gratitude.
Born again into this morning.
Exhale whatever you carried from yesterday.
Now,
Breathe deeper.
Imagine drawing light into the body.
On the exhale,
Let that light spread down your arms,
Your spine,
Your legs.
Every breath,
A sunrise inside you.
This breath is rebellion.
Rebellion against distraction.
Rebellion against the rush.
You choose stillness.
You choose presence.
Stay here.
Breathe slow.
Notice your heartbeat.
That steady rhythm.
That pulse is your drum.
Each beat is saying you are here.
You are alive.
Each inhale,
Feel fierce compassion rise like a flame in your chest.
Each exhale,
Feel it surround you like a shield.
Not fragile.
Not soft,
But strong,
Protective,
Alive.
Keep breathing.
Inhale strength.
Exhale fear.
Inhale clarity.
Exhale doubt.
Now,
Imagine this compassion is fire,
But a fire that warms without burning.
Feel it glow in your chest.
Let it reach your face,
Softening your eyes,
Your jaw.
Let it reach your hands.
So everything you touch today carries that warmth.
Fierce compassion means you rise for yourself and for others.
For the tired.
For the hungry.
For anyone who needs protection.
And you vow not to abandon yourself either.
Stay with your breath.
Your breath is your compass.
Your compassion is your vow.
And this day is yours to live fiercely with love.
Now take a moment right here.
Let the breath return to its natural rhythm.
Notice how the body feels.
Notice the steadiness in your chest.
Notice the calm in your mind.
And let yourself rest in that for a few breaths.
This is what fierce compassion feels like.
Alive in your body,
Steady in your heart.
Let it sink in.
Let it stay with you.
When you're ready,
Bring awareness back to the space around you.
Notice the sounds in the room.
Notice the light through your eyelids.
Maybe wiggle the fingers,
The toes.
Take one last deep breath in.
Exhale fully.
And when you feel ready,
Slowly open the eyes.
Carry this vow with you.
Carry this fire with you.
Always.
We begin again.
And today,
You rise lion-hearted,
Awake,
Alive.
And from this moment on,
