Good morning,
Friends.
Good morning.
So how do you wake up and have a fabulous day?
How do you wake up and celebrate your life?
What is it that you do when you open your eyes?
A lot of times,
Our first go-to is our phone.
And the mind can start reading the news or checking texts or emails.
And the truth is that this is not a great way to start your day.
And I know you know this.
So then the question is,
What is a great way to start your day so that you wake up and you celebrate,
You celebrate being alive?
Maybe you drink a big glass of lemon water.
Maybe you take a walk outside your home,
Breathing in the clean air.
Perhaps you're someone that wants to wake up and stretch or write in your journal.
Whatever it is,
It's important that you have a steady,
Consistent morning routine.
I know that since I started several years ago having a really consistent morning practice.
My life is so much better.
I just feel so much better because how you wake up is how you live your whole day.
Those first 10 minutes or so of your day are essential.
So what will you do when you wake up?
What will you do,
My friends?
So right now,
We're going to set ourselves up,
Set ourselves up to have an amazing day.
Each day offers the possibility of great happiness,
Joy,
Celebration,
Inclusive of whatever is challenging.
Being joyful and celebrating doesn't mean that everything is fine.
Doesn't mean that your life is a bowl of cherries.
No one's life is a bowl of cherries,
Especially right now,
The way things are in our world.
So let us drop in to an energizing,
Joyful meditation to begin this incredible day.
Make yourself comfortable.
You can sit,
You can stay lying down.
It's entirely up to you.
And I invite you to give your body a squeeze.
Take your hands and actually squeeze your body.
Squeeze your legs.
Squeeze them.
This is your body.
It's okay to touch it.
Squeeze your calves,
Your knees,
Your thighs,
Your hips.
And you might want to give your back a little squeeze or a little rub.
Just wake your body up.
And then going up your arms,
Make sure you do your shoulders.
Come down your chest.
That's right.
Take your time and switch over to the other arm.
Give it a good squeeze.
Give it a good squeeze all the way up to the shoulders and then your neck.
These necks that so often are staring at screens and looking down.
Let it move around a little bit.
And then really stretch your face.
Open your mouth wide and then squeeze it closed,
Tightening.
And then open wide.
Soften your jaw.
That's right.
And now just feel yourself here.
Feel yourself here.
What do you notice?
Maybe it's tingling or pulsing.
Maybe you notice that you actually need to shift your position.
Listen.
Listen to your body.
It's talking to you.
Respond.
And take some really delicious breaths.
And now,
Sweet friends,
I invite you to smile.
I invite you to smile and think of something that makes you smile.
Maybe it's a field of sunflowers.
Maybe it's a person you love.
Maybe it's a place that is special for you.
Just smile and hold that smile and breathe.
Feel the muscles in your face and smile.
Smile at your life.
Smile at yourself.
Smile at the beginning of a new day.
You have this day,
My friend,
To be joyful,
To celebrate,
To celebrate the little things and the big things.
So breathe in.
And I invite you to think of three things in your life that are worthy of celebration.
Maybe it's your health.
Maybe it's a relationship,
A partnership,
A friendship.
Maybe it's that you're going to take a walk with a dear friend.
Just notice what it is that is worthy of celebration in your life.
Because every time you practice turning toward what it is that's good,
What it is that brings you joy,
You are rewiring your brain for joy,
For happiness,
For goodness.
So now,
See yourself in one of these scenarios with someone you care about,
With a pet.
See the place where you feel happy,
Joyful,
Content.
Some place in your home,
Some place in nature.
Choose one.
And now,
Sketch in the details.
Let it become colorful.
And sense yourself in this experience.
What are you wearing?
What's your facial expression like?
What are the smells,
The scents around you?
And what do you hear?
Let the experience become alive.
You are alive.
Your life is worthy of celebration.
Your life is worthy of celebration,
Sweet happiness.
Really luxuriate in this experience,
An experience that brings you joy.
And let it fill your heart.
Let it fill your heart.
Let your heart expand.
Let your heart expand in front of you,
Like a golden light shining into the universe.
And let your heart expand behind you.
Let this golden light leave a trail of goodness,
Of joy,
Contentment,
Exhilaration.
And now sense above you and let this golden light stream out the top of your head,
Shining into the universe,
Illuminating the stars and the galaxy.
And now sense below you.
Let this light drench the earth through the soles of your feet.
Let it go all the way down to the center of the earth.
And feel yourself encircled in this golden light from all sides,
From all angles.
And say to yourself,
Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
This life is a celebration,
Yes.
And feel how your body responds.
Maybe it's tingling or warm pulsing.
Let yourself be infused with the joy of being alive.
And you can trust that every step you take will be infused with the joy of being alive today and every day.
I invite you to practice this meditation for at least seven days.
And please celebrate your life.
Celebrate.
Celebrate with your whole heart.
I am here as your ally in love,
Joy,
And celebration.
Thank you for being here.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
