Acceptance And Resistance Practice

So much of our lives is spent wishing things were other than they are. In this meditation we explore the feeling of acceptance and how we can use that feeling to anchor oursevles when resistance arises.

Transcript

I invite you to begin perhaps with some. Gentle movement. And then settling into your meditation posture for today. Finding a position that feels like you were being kind and gentle to yourself. Whether that's upright. Or resting. Maybe your eyes are soft or closed. Whatever feels safe for you right now. And from this gentle position. I invite you to drop into the sensations in your body. Created by your breath. Wherever they are most present for you today. The movement of the inhale and exhale. Expansion and contraction. Cool and warm. Take notice of how you can accept the error. Coming in and out of your lungs. There's no need to change it. Simply accepting the error. I now invite you to become aware of any sounds you can hear right now. Whether nearby or far away. Can you accept those sounds? Whatever they are. Without resistance or getting lost in a story about the sounds. Accepting that the sound is here. In your awareness. Right now. With no need to change anything. Accepting the error. Accepting the sounds. I now invite you to move your awareness to whatever is supporting your body right now. Your chair. A pillow. The bed. The floor. Whatever it is. Notice how you can simply accept the feeling of gravity. Accepting the error. Accepting the sounds. Accepting the feeling of gravity. As we sit. We become aware of the thoughts that continually arise and pass. Can you drop any resistance to the thoughts? Not trying to stop the thoughts. Just noticing if you can accept these thoughts for what they are. And let them go. Accepting the error. Accepting the sounds. Accepting the feeling of gravity. Accepting the thoughts. Familiarize yourself. With this feeling in your body of acceptance. We can do this. This is what we do as we meditate. We accept the reality of whatever is happening in this present moment. Drop into this feeling of acceptance in your body. This feeling of acceptance. Allows us to be present with what is. Without resisting. It doesn't mean our back doesn't hurt. Or the sounds of the leaf blower next door isn't there. Or that we aren't distracted by thoughts. We are just working with letting those things be there without resistance. Accepting the reality of the situation. Knowing those sensations will pass and new ones will arise. And as we sit here. Resistance in some form will likely arise. An ache. An unpleasant thought. Remembering something that needs to get done. A song stuck in your head? Boredom or restlessness. When you become aware, Of your resistance to whatever is arriving. Can you mentally note? Resistance. Without trying to change anything. Can this resistance be present? Just like the air moving in and out. Just like the sounds. Just like gravity. Can you sit here with this resistance? And watch it in your body and mind. How big is that? How long does it last? Resistance will arise. And resistance will pass. Perhaps you may choose to move your awareness back to the air moving through your body. We're back to gravity supporting you. Or back to sounds that arise and pass. So much of our day can be spent. Wishing things were other than they are right now. Let's acknowledge how hard this is. How hard it is to admit. To our lack of control. When we work so much of our lives to feel like we are in control. Perhaps we can choose to send ourselves. Loving kindness for this struggle. May I feel peace. May I be free of harm. May I be healthy in body and mind. May I live. With ease and acceptance. And knowing but the struggle of acceptance. And resistance. Arises in every one of us. Perhaps we can choose to send. Other beings. Loving kindness for this struggle. May we find peace. May we be free from harm. May we be healthy. And body and mind. May we live. With ease. And acceptance.