Start by taking a moment to check in and get settled in your current environment,
Finding a position that feels supportive and comfortable for your body.
You can choose to do this practice sitting or in whatever position serves you today.
If you feel comfortable,
Allow your eyes to close,
Or else keep your eyes open and direct your gaze to a spot in front of you.
See if you can locate the breath in the body,
Then allow your attention to anchor on the waves of the in-breath and the out-breath.
If your mind starts to get louder or chattier as you turn inwards,
As our minds often do,
Simply acknowledge that a busy mind is here and gently guide your attention back to the practice,
Noticing the in-breath and noticing the out-breath.
In this practice,
We will help connect you to what matters most on your family building journey.
What matters to you right now will likely feel different for you depending on where you are in the family building process.
Wherever you are in the process,
You might ask your current self these questions about your values that can guide your journey.
As I ask these questions,
Simply let the answers come to you,
Not needing to seek an answer or analyze the question.
Just letting the answer come in as naturally as possible.
What do I want to stand for on this intentional process of family building?
When I'm facing difficult feelings during this process,
What can anchor me and help me ride out an emotional storm?
If I could show up for myself and for my loved ones in the way that I and they most need,
What qualities would I show up with?
When I'm sharing my family building story in the future,
What important qualities do I want to be able to convey about the felt sense of my journey?
As I ask these questions,
You might have something come into your mind quickly,
Or you might have more trouble connecting with a clear value.
There may also be difficult worries,
Frustrations,
Or losses that come up as you consider these questions.
If any of these experiences do come up,
Just notice them and bring your mind gently back to the original question,
Asking it again and allowing your mind to fill in the answer.
What do I want to stand for on this intentional process of family building?
When facing difficult feelings during this journey,
What can anchor me and help me ride out an emotional storm?
If I could show up for myself and for my loved ones in the way that I and they most need,
What qualities would I show up with?
When I'm sharing my family building story in the future,
What important qualities do I want to be able to convey about the felt sense of my journey?
Letting the answers come to you.
And then seeing if you can land on one value or intention that stands out most strongly right now.
Maybe it's a value of compassion,
Mindfulness,
Or justice.
Maybe it's play or rest,
Or community or family connection.
Whatever you land on,
Try to notice what that felt sense is as you name this important value.
What's it like to say,
Ah,
Yes,
This is what's important to me.
Now take this value you've identified and start to imagine in your mind's eye that you're acting on this value.
You're taking steps on your family building journey.
See if you can imagine looking at a movie screen and watching yourself actually taking these steps.
Maybe it's something you might do this week,
In a few months,
In a year.
What steps would you be taking that are grounded in this value?
Holding this value in mind,
What would you be doing?
Who would you be with?
Or would you be alone?
What unexpected surprises might you encounter along the way?
How might you be feeling while acting in line with your values?
See if you can stay with this practice.
Imagining a few different steps or situations that may occur for you during this process.
And as you're imagining them,
Check in with what is coming up in your body.
Is there any sense of joy,
Anxiety,
Groundedness,
Confidence,
Courage,
Any other felt sense in your physical body?
No matter what has shown up,
Let those feelings be,
Knowing you're doing the deep work of bringing intention and groundedness to your journey.
Now start to leave this image of yourself behind,
And come back to yourself in this current moment.
Noticing the breath in the body right now.
And connect with your body as it is in this moment,
Maybe introducing some gentle movement into your body,
Stretching your arms or legs,
Shaking your head yes or no,
Tapping gently on your chest,
And then send yourself a message of appreciation for engaging in this practice and for the intention and presence you're bringing on this important journey.
And then for just a moment more,
Be still and listen to the sound of the bell.
Bell
