Welcome to ACORN.
Today for you I have accepting life's challenges.
Begin with a few deep breaths to find your center.
Breathe in through the nose and back out through the mouth.
Breathe in,
Noticing the refreshing feeling,
And breathe out and feel the relaxation wash over you.
Take 30 seconds just for yourself to notice this relaxing,
Refreshing feeling.
Take just a moment to reflect on an aspect of your life you're having difficulty accepting.
You may keep your eyes closed and continue to focus on your breathing throughout the rest of the meditation.
An easing of control,
A releasing of anger of how we think a situation should be or could be.
Acceptance is a transformative power.
When we surrender our expectations we float,
Like a leaf dropped into a brook,
Following the current,
Not fighting or resisting.
This moment is perfect with all its difficulties.
It is the act of resisting the natural order bringing forth our disharmony.
Radical acceptance is letting go of the need to control and dictate.
With this surrender we are freed.
Take another 30 seconds to reflect on the freedom you may find through letting go of how things should be and accepting them for just how they are.
You are powerful.
Today you will not allow your expectations to rob you of enjoying how the present moment unfolds.
You will remain curious and intrigued,
Wondering what will happen next.
In your curiosity and intrigue you will find the impulse to change things disappear.
Today,
Acceptance is the answer to all of life's unchangeable difficulties.
A quick reading from chapter 13 of the Tao Te Ching.
Accept disgrace willingly.
Accept misfortune as the human condition.
What do you mean by accept disgrace willingly?
Accept being unimportant.
Do not be concerned with loss or gain.
This is called accepting disgrace willingly.
What do you mean by accept misfortune as the human condition?
Misfortune comes from having a body.
Without a body,
How could there be misfortune?
Surrender yourself humbly,
Then you can be trusted to care for all things.
Love the world as your own self,
Then you can truly care for all things.
Take one minute to meditate on these words.
Take one minute to meditate on these words.
We will end with a short blessing for you.
May you find the strength to accept life's challenges.
May you free yourself from your expectations.
May you approach this day with an open heart and curious mind.
May you find the current.
And may you find contentment wherever it carries you.
