Namaste friends,
And thank you for joining me in a guided practice today.
This is a new series focusing on disentanglement from false and limiting self perceptions imposed by our psychological imprints.
It will be a series of three.
Today's practice is the first step of this process in which we will engage in self study using basic breath awareness as the conduit.
In step two of the process,
I will lead you on self identifying samskaras or the behavior groups we dig through repeated behaviors so that we can examine,
Study,
And release what does not serve us.
And finally,
In step three,
We will engage in contemplative exercises and mantras,
Returning again and again to these mantras in order to arrive at an intuitive,
Transparent vision of the self.
I recommend doing these three guided practices in a relaxed,
Seated position in order to maintain active engagement.
I also recommend keeping a journal or a notepad nearby,
Writing down any thoughts or emotions that come up now or that may even surface later on.
It'll be a helpful tool for you to go back to and reflect on as you move through all three practices.
Gently close your eyes and let's begin our journey.
Come to a natural,
Relaxing breath.
As you physically settle into stillness,
Your mind likely has millions of whirling thoughts.
Rather than using energy to block out these thoughts,
Recognize and acknowledge them for what they are.
Our thoughts teach us a lot about ourselves.
Realizing what thoughts enter our mind on a regular basis helps us become aware of many other aspects of the self.
So be mindful,
Look upon yourself and your thoughts without judgment or criticism.
Breathe.
Notice now what thoughts are entering your mind.
Journey deeper into these thoughts,
Do not simply move past them.
Take time here.
Examine your thoughts.
Take notice of those thoughts that repeat or have repeating themes or even similar ideas that keep passing through.
Ask yourself,
Why are these thoughts present?
Breathe.
What thoughts can you let go of?
These answers are clues into how you define yourself and your beliefs.
Take time here to repeat this exercise as often as you need.
You can rewind to the previous prompts and use those prompts as a guide to move between this practice or simply move at your own pace,
Turning back to my voice when prompted.
Are you ready to release those thoughts?
Turn now back to your breath.
Seal your lips and begin breathing in and out of your nose.
Inhale.
Exhale completely.
Breathing through the nose forces us to slow down reducing tension and stress.
Breathe in and out.
Gently and naturally without force.
The breath tells us how we are.
Follow your breath.
And as you follow your breath,
Notice where are you holding tension?
Ask yourself,
Why is this tension present?
Can you unclench your jaw or soften your forehead?
Now relax your neck,
Your shoulders,
Your upper back.
How has this changed your breath?
Is it slower?
More steady?
Notice how has this changed your posture?
Can you feel more at ease here?
Is your mind more peaceful?
Notice this.
Notice the shifts from where you began to this very point.
This is how we grow our inner witness,
Which is the ability to watch ourselves act and then respond.
This is the catalyst for change.
The ability to watch ourselves act and respond,
Whether physically,
Mentally or emotionally,
Is that which begins to bring healing into our lives.
By shifting the attention of your breath,
Of your mind,
Of your brain,
Of your thinking,
You can change your reality instantaneously.
Revisit exercises in today's guided practice anytime you need to return to make a shift.
Know that you have a choice to live with the same thoughts that give you a reality which you have already known or you can change.
How?
By changing patterns or habits created when those thoughts and actions become imprints and impressions on your mind.
We will examine on how to do this more in the next few practices of this series.
Today I'd like to close with a quote from Aristotle who said,
Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.
Namaste.
