Welcome to this meditation practice for resting in the flow.
Life is like a flowing river.
The river is changing all the time,
Yet there's continuity as it follows well-worn grooves throughout the landscape.
The more we practice mindfulness,
We're able to see more clearly and become more able to steer our way through the currents of life.
So let's begin.
Settle into a comfortable posture.
Close your eyes or lower your eyes in a soft gaze.
Place your feet on the ground and relax your arms at your sides.
And begin to suddenly draw your shoulder blades toward each other,
Allowing the chin to be parallel with the floor.
And lift the crown of your head toward the sky.
If you're able to,
Soften the belly and the jaw.
And just notice what it feels like to stop.
What it feels like to be sitting in this purposeful posture in this space.
Perhaps take a moment here to welcome yourself to this practice.
Begin paying attention to your breath.
Notice how each breath and each moment of each breath is a unique experience.
One breath is not the same as the previous one or the next one.
Next,
Notice how the breath happens without you controlling it.
The breath happens on its own.
Know too that all of the automatic processes of the body,
Your blood flow,
Heartbeat,
The oxygenation of your cells are all happening in the same way.
And as best you can,
Relax into this experience.
Open your awareness now to your whole body.
And as physical sensations rise into your consciousness and pass through,
Recognize that each one of them is impermanent.
Continually transforming in intensity,
Location,
And quality.
Let the sensations be experienced moment by moment.
And see if you can allow them to pass through without attachment or rejection.
Recognizing too that the physical state of your body is always in flux.
Skin cells are being shed.
Cells are growing,
And some are dying.
Neural connections are being strengthened,
While others are weakening.
Now bringing your awareness to your thoughts.
And with a kind curiosity,
Observe the patterns of thinking that are running through your mind,
Like clouds passing across the sky of your mind.
Like the weather,
These thought patterns are always changing,
Depending on the atmosphere of your mind.
Everything impermanent,
Everything constantly flowing and changing.
Let go of your awareness.
Allow yourself to let go into the space within and around you.
Remaining alert and present to whatever comes.
Allowing the experience to happen by itself.
Breathing in the flow as it unfolds moment by moment.
And now,
With your mind calm and your body relaxed.
Repeat the following affirmations silently in your head.
Breathing in,
I rest in the flow of life.
Breathing out,
I trust and enjoy the journey.
Breathing in,
I rest in the flow of life.
Breathing in,
I rest in the flow of life.
Breathing in,
I rest in the flow of life.
And now,
As we near the end of this practice,
Follow three more full cycles of breathing.
Be as present as possible for each breath and remember this place of awareness is always available to you because it's within you.
And when you feel ready,
Allow your eyes to gently open if they were closed.
Reacquaint yourself with your surroundings and prepare to re-engage with your day.
Thank you so much for joining me in this practice.
I hope you have a wonderful day.
