Resisting The Chase For More

This practice with Ryan includes mindful breathing, positive self-affirmations and a focus on intentional gratitude. When we shift our focus from our anxious, endless desires for "more" to appreciating the gifts that already surrounds us, we attract the abundance we desire.

Transcript

Welcome everyone to today's meditation.

Today we're going to be focusing on the chase for more and how we can turn our attention and focus inward and focus on what we already have.

So often we're looking for the next big prize or the next big win to take that next big step in our career or in our relationship.

We're so focused on what's next and how we can get more that we lose track of what's already going on in our lives and we lose our own focus of the abundance that's all around us already.

So let's go ahead and settle in.

Get yourself into a comfortable position.

If you're sitting upright engage your core and lift that head up so that you're feeling less tension in the lower back but more strength in your core area.

Sit cross-legged with your hands resting on your knees.

Turn your palms up to the sky.

This is an open and welcoming posture.

You can also lay down on your back and stretch out your legs with a pillow underneath your knees to help take the load off the day.

The most important thing is just to get comfortable and start focusing on your breathing.

Let's go ahead and take a deep breath in and exhale.

And let's take another deep breath in and exhale.

When we're breathing in we want to breathe in through the nose and exhale out the mouth.

Breathe in and exhale.

We always want to make sure that the exhale is just a little longer than the inhale.

The inhale brings rejuvenation and energy to the nervous system and the exhale brings calm,

Peace,

And serenity to the nervous system.

So the inhale is motivating and the exhale is calming.

Breathe in and breathe out.

Just allow yourself to relax at this time.

Let your thoughts roam.

Whatever comes into your consciousness,

Let it drift through like the clouds floating by.

Some clouds are really condensed and dark.

Others are really wispy and light.

We're not trying to control the clouds and we can't.

So we shouldn't try to control our thoughts.

They're just thoughts.

They're just neurons firing.

We don't have to give any meaning to them.

We can just observe and watch.

We're not attaching any meaning to anything at this time.

Just focusing on the breath,

On the inhale,

On the exhale,

And on the inhale,

And on the exhale.

Continue to let your body drift into a deeper and deeper state of calm.

Let go of any tension you're carrying in your head,

In your forehead,

In your jaw.

Gently wiggle your jaw left and right.

Get out any tension that you might be holding onto.

Let your shoulders relax and drop.

Let your chest and your belly rise and fall naturally now.

Let go of any tension that might be in your lower back,

In your hips,

In your legs and knees.

Wiggle your toes if you're experiencing any discomfort within the body.

That'll help to release some of that pent-up or stuck energy.

And just allow yourself to feel supported by the weight of the floor.

You're grounded and you're anchored and you're safe at this time.

So as you continue to focus on your breathing and if your mind drifts,

You're pulling yourself back to your breath.

Pulling yourself back to whatever you're experiencing in your body.

You're accepting,

You're normalizing,

You're not judging any sensations or feelings or thoughts that you might be having in this moment.

Let's go ahead and start to contemplate our need for more.

We're habituated and addicted to want more.

Seems like we're always on the search for the next big prize.

What can capture my attention?

How can I get more of what I already know that I don't need?

What are some ways that I can distract myself with more insignificant material possessions or activities or pleasures or rewards?

Also I don't have to turn my attention to what I already have.

Why is it so difficult to stop that quest for more?

Well as it turns out our brains are actually wired.

We are habituated and conditioned biologically to always be on the hunt for more.

To gather more for our survival.

It also seems that psychologically anyway we've become conditioned to want and need more because of this 21st century lifestyle.

Our lifestyles promote the narrative that more is better.

Keep up or get left behind.

Gather more so you can be better off than your neighbor.

The more education,

The more materials,

Titles,

Money,

The more happiness we acquire,

The more attractive we're going to be to our potential partners.

The more attracted we'll be to our community,

To media.

We even believe briefly that our success acquiring more makes us happy,

Fulfilled,

And joyful.

But what if this is all an illusion based off old brain thinking?

What if it's all an illusion based off of a new age need for showboating?

What if this is all an illusion to keep up with what we see promoted through our advertising,

Our media,

Our social media every day?

We end up chasing this illusion and we buy into it and this creates our belief systems around the necessity to keep up.

Take a big deep breath in at this time and a deep long exhale out and inhale in and release through your open mouth.

Relax.

Inhale in and exhale.

So what would it be like to pause,

To step out of this old brain,

New age way of thinking,

To reflect on but also to observe what we have already available to us?

I wonder if we feel threatened or if we feel relieved.

Would we feel boredom or freedom?

Stuck or motivated?

It comes down to our values,

Our perceptions,

Our belief systems,

And ego,

Our habits,

And our ability to deliberate.

If we can change what we value and our perceptions of what's valuable,

Then perhaps we can pause long enough to feel like we are already enough.

Reflection and taking stock of the abundance we have in our lives allows for more gratitude and joy,

Allows for more overall contentment.

Reflection allows us to slow the pace.

This reduces our anxiety and changes how we relate to the external world and our internal dialogue.

If our values can be adjusted to focus more on appreciation of what we already have,

And if our values can be modified to focus always on refinement versus a need for more,

We're more likely to change self-destructive behaviors and to experience emotional freedom and stability,

And certainly to think more positively and productively about our self-worth,

About our identity,

Our relationships,

Our careers,

Our wants,

Needs,

Our desires.

So much of depression and anxiety are directly linked to our habits for more.

Conversely,

Our happiness and joy are directly linked to our gratitude and appreciation of what we already have.

For those of you that grew up in the 80s and early 90s,

You'll recognize the name Michael J.

Fox.

At the height of Michael's career,

He was diagnosed with Parkinson's.

This,

Of course,

Dramatically changed his career,

But also changed his relationships and certainly changed his health and well-being.

I remember watching an interview with Michael when he first was diagnosed,

And the interviewer was asking him how is he coping with this diagnosis,

And Michael was going through a lot of therapy at the time and trying to reframe his diagnosis and think in more productive and healthy terms.

Not easy to do when you've been given a diagnosis like Parkinson's.

He so gracefully said,

My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance and in inverse proportion to my expectations.

So ironically,

More success and abundance is actually available to us as we refine all aspects of our lives and as we turn inward and take stock of what's already around us.

What type of relationships do I already have?

How is my career already cultivating purpose and passion and a principled work ethic?

How fortunate am I to have the health that I have right this very moment?

Let us look around and see the possessions that we already have,

The safety,

Security,

And connections that we already have,

And let us bring intentional gratitude for the abundance that exists within our lives.

Silently say to yourself,

I am so fortunate.

I am healthy.

I am safe.

I am secure.

I am blessed to have the connections that I have in my life.

So let's bring our focus and our attention back to our breath.

Let's inhale for six and exhale for eight.

Let's inhale for six and a nice steady exhale for eight.

One more time,

Inhale for six and exhale for eight.

Let yourself relax now and as you start to come out of today's meditation,

Let us bring gratitude for the abundance we have in all areas of our lives.

Let us shift our attention and our focus intentionally to what is instead of what isn't.

Let us accept that this day is perfect just as it is and we are grateful and thankful for all aspects of our existence.

Thank you for sharing this meditation with me.

Be well,

Take care,

And Namaste.

Reviews

Thank you so much for this important meditation, so glad to fine it. It is an important topic and I am grateful for this session!

I love all his meditation videos they are the best

Great message and truth in this practice. This one will need repeat visits from me. Well done, thanks! 🙏🏻

Wonderful thank you 🙏

So relevant right now. Thank you for this reminder of what is truly important namaste

Lovely. Well created, enjoyable, thoughtful and insightful. I feel very relaxed, and very inspired by your words. Thank you! 🙏🏻

Thank you. A very helpful resource to refocus on the appreciation of what I have and to move away from constantly striving for the next, best thing.

Great! I didn’t feel the 17min I just flew by it! And loved the meditation today! Thanks!

Gratitude for sharing this meditation 🙏🏻🍃

Thank You 🙏 Ryan - important and succinct 😌

Thank you ny friend 🙏

Great reminder. Thanks!

Loved this! Perfect reminder for my life. Thank you.

Excellent and so true! Thank you!!

Great message, thanks 🙏

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Thank you so much!!!!

Thank you for sharing with us! Very nice, bookmarked. Namaste 🙏🏻

Meditative pep-talk. If you are like me and can't always focus your thoughts, this was great! I loved the last 2 mins, the affirmations.

Just what I needed, thank you 🙏