Sunset is a magical time.
There's always a subtle pause when day meets night.
And in this pause,
Day breathes out as night breathes in.
In the sublime exchange,
Red and orange bleed into the sky before slowly fading into darkness.
A beautiful sunset has the power to evoke a sense of wonder wherever we are.
And by admiring its magnificence,
We're filled with optimism and gratitude,
Even if it's just for a fleeting moment.
But when it comes to sunsets in our lives,
We forget to look at the colours and focus on the darkness instead.
All we can see when we plunged into an ending are the silhouettes and shadows of what we thought was meant to be.
Broken relationships,
Failed job applications,
Disappointing experiences.
I call these seasonal sunsets because they're never permanent.
Just as each evening brings the promise of another day,
Bright beginnings will surface from temporary darkness.
For this moment,
We're going to silence that punishing voice in your head.
We're going to reframe your stories of failure into tales of survival.
It's time to shift your view from the darkness to the colours that frame every human experience.
So let's start by taking a few deep breaths to arrive in the present moment.
Start relaxing the crown of your head,
Your forehead,
Your throat,
Your chest,
Your lower abdomen,
Your sitting bones,
Your thighs,
Your calves,
Your feet.
Now gently bring your awareness to your heart and breathe into this area to soften any tension or tightness.
Think of one thing you're truly grateful for right now.
This can be big,
Your health,
Or small,
The meal you had last night.
Keep breathing into your heart area while visualising this moment of gratitude and notice the feelings that come up for you.
If anything negative pops up,
Gently think it and ask it to move on for now like a cloud in the sky.
If anything negative pops up,
Gently think it and ask it to move on for now like a cloud in the sky.
Now bring to mind one of your achievements.
Again,
This can be big,
A recent promotion,
Or small,
Getting up 10 minutes earlier to meditate today.
Keep breathing into your heart area while visualising this moment of achievement and notice the feelings that come up for you.
Now think of it this way.
Think of a disappointing experience you've had recently or long ago.
Focus on your breath while you bring this experience to mind.
Make sure your breaths are deep,
Unfocused on your heart area.
Notice the feelings that come up for you.
If they're too unpleasant or strong at any time,
Direct your attention back to your moment of gratitude or achievement.
Robin Sharma says,
There are no mistakes in life,
Only lessons.
A disappointing experience means you've put yourself out there.
Maybe you've learnt how to handle conflict in a new way or stepped out of your comfort zone.
Gently breathe into your heart area and think of the life lessons you embraced in this moment of disappointment.
Now bring together your moment of gratitude,
Achievement and disappointment.
It may help to imagine all three of these moments sitting around a campfire in peace and harmony.
None of these are good or bad,
They simply are.
Gently thank all three of these moments for showing up today.
Next time you experience a seasonal sunset,
Remember this insight.
In that subtle pause between darkness and light,
Consciously tap into all the things you're grateful for.
Think of your achievements and everything you've learnt along the way.
We're now coming to the end of this meditation.
Gently bring yourself back to the room.
You can wriggle your toes,
Your fingers and when you're ready,
Open your eyes.
Thank you for joining me and I wish you a magical rest of the day.
