The only reason we want anything in life is because we hope it will make us feel a particular way.
It's not the actual things we want,
It's the feeling we hope to get from them.
But chasing after something or someone in the future to give you that feeling you desire can be a bottomless trap that keeps our mind focused on what we're lacking.
Instead we can start appreciating all that we currently have that makes us feel the way we desire.
There's so much magic in this.
I like to call this the reverse bucket list meditation.
Rather than making a bucket list for all the things we want in the future,
We're making a bucket list of all the things we're grateful for experiencing and having already in our life.
You can do this now as a closed-eyed meditation or you can follow along this recording and do it as a journaling practice,
Choosing to pause the recording however long you want to while you write down your gratitudes.
Or you can just sit and contemplate your gratitudes as well.
So let's begin.
And we'll begin with the basics.
Start listing all that you're grateful for,
That your body provides for you or does for you as it carries you through this life.
Even if it's sick or injured or not the supermodel image,
Your body is still doing so much for you every single second.
In fact,
Many times our sickness,
Injury,
Or uniqueness is actually some of our greatest gifts that show up in the form of lessons,
Connection,
Courage,
And insights.
So take a moment right now to name all the gifts that come from your body.
And as you name or think about each of these gifts,
Just let a little feeling of gratitude come into your heart.
Say thank you to your body.
Now let's think about all the people that enrich our lives.
List as many as you can think of and really acknowledge the positive feeling you get from these people in your life,
All around you.
Send a thank you from your heart to all of those people as they come to mind.
And these people can be present or past.
We are still blessed with the way that they've enriched us.
Now think about all the benefits you get from living where you do,
Whether it be the shelter of your home or the benefits of the culture you are part of or even the natural beauty surrounding you.
And as you contemplate or visualize or write these,
Again,
Just give thanks.
Bring your awareness now to all the skills you've gained or some of the skills that you have naturally.
Often those are the ones that we most readily take for granted and forget that they're special or a gift at all.
Think about the things that you're good at that do come naturally to you,
That other people thank you for.
And allow yourself a moment of real deep appreciation in your heart for all of those.
And then think about the challenges that have given you so much strength or wisdom.
Maybe some of those challenges gave you the skills that came to mind a minute ago.
Really appreciating the benefits we get from our challenges,
Even though in the moment they might not feel the best many times.
As a result of them,
We're able to feel our best or most confident or most clear or most connected.
And drop those challenges in your bucket list of gratitudes.
And then bring your mind to the opportunities that have come your way.
All the opportunities that perhaps you could have never even imagined.
And all the paths that they've led you down.
The adventures,
The connections,
The growth,
The love,
The memories.
Let yourself smile as you think about these.
And as you bring to mind all of these experiences,
These opportunities,
Let yourself remember the ones that have brought you the most joy and the most bliss.
And think about what brings you into that feeling of love and loving life.
All the people,
All the places,
All the experiences and the challenges and the opportunities.
Bring your awareness to your breath.
Inhaling,
Exhaling,
Inhaling,
Exhaling.
Really acknowledging that you get to be alive.
Experiencing this amazing and sometimes wild thing called life.
What a gift.
And just feel so much gratitude in your heart that this massive,
Beautiful adventure,
Drama unfolding,
This one is yours.
This is the greatest gift you have.
And within it is already everything you need,
Everything you want.
Just pause and sit in that deep gratitude in your heart for the gift of living.
Let it overflow.
Let it fill every single cell in your body.
And start to feel this gratitude for living radiating out beyond you in every direction.
And just imagine sending it now to all the people,
Places,
All around you.
Stay in this beautiful,
Overflowing well of gratitude as long as you like.
