Welcome.
Today's practice is going to focus on refreshing our perspective.
As we move into the practice,
Find a position that suits you right now,
That offers some level of comfort to your body.
Feel free to try out a few different options.
And within the next minute to settle in.
When you have arrived.
Take a moment to just appreciate doing absolutely nothing for the next few minutes.
Give yourself permission to disconnect from everything that was just in flight.
And to postpone thinking about what's coming next.
That offers us true presence in the now.
If it's comfortable for you,
You might consider closing your eyes.
And be aware that in a few moments after we have taken some deep breaths,
I will likely invite you to open your eyes once again.
For now,
If you have them closed,
Draw your attention inward.
Maybe listen to the sounds inside of your body.
Breathing.
.
.
Maybe you hear rushing or even feel the sensation of your heartbeat or your pulse.
And connect now to your breathing.
Just noticing it.
Offering it your deliberate and focused attention.
Noticing how your body shifts and changes in order to breathe.
And perhaps now,
Take a deep breath.
Consider breathing in through the nose.
Feeling full expansion as if you could fill your lungs to full capacity.
And then letting it go through the mouth,
Maybe even with a sigh.
And then just allow the body to be breathed.
Whatever it is that it desires for a pattern of breath.
May be allowed.
Notice what it feels like to finally just sit and do nothing.
Perspective governs our experience.
And sometimes it's nice.
To honor that by shifting our usual default perspective.
As you rest here.
I invite you to open your eyes if they're closed.
And look at something nearby you.
Something very familiar.
And notice that as you look at it,
You assign it meaning.
You have past experience with this thing.
You know how it's used.
You know what it's for.
Do you know if it's important to you?
And now,
Let's take a moment to continue to look at this exact same item.
And instead.
.
.
Look with a baby's eyes.
A baby is going to look at something.
Completely curious.
Observing shape and color,
Temperature,
You might even reach out and touch it.
And without any past experience about this item,
A baby is going to.
.
.
Explore or imagine.
Or use it in a way that's different than what it's used for.
A baby's eyes might look at this as a completely neutral thing.
Not positive,
Not negative.
Just there.
With curiosity.
What might you be able?
To imagine this thing could be used for that's totally different from your past experience and assigned meeting.
And what if you decided it was one of the most valuable things you've ever seen?
Just enjoy adjusting your perspective.
Igniting your creativity.
Using your imagination.
Instead of thinking about what you've always known.
Maybe thinking about what's possible.
Maybe you continue to gaze at this item.
Or you know it well enough that you can return to closing your eyes and still hold the image.
Checking in with your breath now.
Has it changed?
And now,
How would you like your breath to behave?
Would you like tea?
Long inhales and exhales may be balanced.
Or maybe a short inhale and a nice long exhale.
It's even an option to add a pause or time where you retain the breath,
Maybe at the top.
Or maybe when you've exhaled all the way.
And you just sit in that peaceful space right before the next breath.
Imagine what we might be able to see as solutions or even just new experiences by looking at things with a baby's eyes.
As if you are fresh.
As if no past experience can influence what comes next.
Only what is.
Right now.
Based on your observation.
Your creativity and your choice.
What a gift it is to be able to refresh our perspective.
To recognize that the things that we see and do and experience are all assigned some type of meaning based on what life we've lived so far.
Little breaks to set ourselves free from that history can be rejuvenating.
And now maybe just release the image of that particular thing that you were gazing at or imagining.
Just let it float away.
Or maybe even let it regain its meaning.
From your past.
Take a few more breaths now,
Just being present in exactly what is.
Releasing judgment.
And releasing any anticipation of what's coming next.
We will slowly emerge from our practice,
Step by step,
Together.
Once you've taken one more deep breath,
Maybe even with a sigh on the exhale,
Perhaps you Wiggle your fingers or toes or even stretch.
Maybe look around your environment or bring your ears to the sounds around you.
And once you have fully arrived once again,
I invite you to try on your fresh perspective with anything that may come up today.
Just for a minute or two.
Just have fun with the fact that you can.
You can refresh your perspective.
And it's my wish for you.
That it will even give you access to your creativity.
Thank you for choosing to practice together today,
And it's my honor for you to trust me with this practice.
Be well and thrive.
