Welcome to our practice together today.
Let's take the next few minutes.
To settle in and become comfortable.
Maybe try a few different positions wherever you are.
Make sure your temperature is comfortable.
And maybe even that you feel cozy.
If you're comfortable with closing your eyes for your practice,
I invite you to do so now.
Or just soften your gaze so you're not focused on any one thing.
And now,
Let's arrive.
This moment is available to us.
We've pressed pause on all of our obligations,
Pressures.
Maybe even on our thoughts.
And in this moment,
We have released ourselves from any expectations to perform.
The here and now is safe and protected.
And maybe now notice your breath.
Our best friend,
The breath.
Always there for us.
And just ask it if it has any messages for you today.
And then maybe offer your breath some structure.
Like a deep inhale.
Allowing full expansion of the back and the ribs and the lungs drawing in that air.
And then releasing that through the mouth.
Feeling everything get smaller and condense.
And settled and released.
And then do a few more at your own pace.
And now just return to whatever breathing pattern your body is asking you for.
And savor that experience of peace.
Breathing.
Experiencing breathing.
I would like you to remember.
That there are people who are thankful for you.
Simply because you are you.
As humankind.
We tend to place an awful lot of importance on Criticism.
War.
One particular experience that maybe we have judged ourselves harshly on.
For some reason,
We often allow those to speak louder than the positives.
And today,
Rather than remove those,
I invite you to simply put.
Two lists next to each other.
The one where you could use improvement.
And the other.
Is the list of the things that you are already valued for.
Exactly as you are,
Just for being you.
There are people out there who smile when they think of you.
Some of the people in your life feel a little lighter after they've interacted with you.
And now imagine some of your closer relationships because there are people who feel safe around you and come to you for that safety.
And then if we expand that circle a little bit wider.
There are people who know you.
That wish they had a you in their lives all the time.
There's likely someone out there that you've passed on the street or in the store or at the coffee shop.
That remembers you.
Because you were kind to them.
There are people in your life that see you giving.
And are gladly receiving from you.
You are essential just as you are,
Just because you think the way you do,
Just because there is no other you.
There are people.
Who experience love when they think of you.
There are animals who think of you with love.
What do you experience when you think of you?
Can you make these examples of others who value you just as you are?
A little louder in your own heart.
What a gift it would be if we just had a volume dial.
To turn up the loudness and the presence.
Of how valuable we truly are.
You're tremendous.
You're smart.
You work hard and you love big.
And even people who don't know your first name might remember you as the kind one.
How beautiful is that?
Imagine with your next breath in.
All of those people that you either know or have never even officially met.
That see you with value are filling you up.
A big deep breath.
And as you exhale,
Allow that to be a sigh of relief.
Knowing.
That you matter.
Your life makes a difference.
Your kindness is genuine.
And people know that.
Sit with that for the next few breaths.
If any of this has been hard for you to believe.
Breathe in acceptance.
Of your value.
Right now.
It's absolutely true.
In this moment and all moments,
Even in the face of your mistakes.
Take another deep breath in here.
Recognizing who you are and what you bring to the world.
And accepting.
That your value is bigger and louder.
In your areas of improvement.
As we slowly begin to emerge from our practice.
Maybe awaken the body.
Maybe give yourself a stretch or even a yawn.
And it is my hope for you as we carry on throughout.
The activities of the day.
That you turn up that volume knob.
On your self-worth and value.
And know it to be true.
I know it to be true.
I know it to be true of all of you.
Thank you for choosing to practice together today.
Be well and thrive.
