Welcome,
Or maybe even welcome back to this end of day reflection.
I've recently added a new practice to my spiritual toolbox,
And what I'm doing is at the end of each day,
I take a few minutes to reflect.
Most times I'll do this sitting with my eyes closed in the peace and quiet of my bedroom,
But it could really be done almost anywhere,
While you're washing dishes or folding the laundry.
Just somewhere you can pause,
Bring yourself into the present moment,
And turn inward.
As the wise Oprah says,
You cannot have a meaningful life without having self-reflection.
So let's get settled so we can begin to take a few very important minutes to turn inward and reflect on our day.
Make sure that you're comfortable,
Eyes closed,
Or with a soft downward gaze,
Hands resting comfortably,
Face,
Neck,
And shoulders relaxed.
And feel how you are supported as you sit or lie right now in the stillness of this moment.
Take a moment to feel your breath.
Notice how it feels to inhale and exhale.
The rhythm of your breath as a guide to be just in this moment,
Not pulled into the future or ruminating about the past.
Just right here,
Right now,
Just as it is.
The idea of this end-of-day reflection came to me when I was listening to the author Jack Camfield being interviewed by Oprah on one of her Super Soul Sunday episodes.
And he was talking about how he ends each day by asking himself the question,
Where could I have been more?
This question is meant to be supportive,
Not as a way to beat ourselves up for the ways we believe we failed or didn't measure up.
It's simply asking yourself the question,
How did I tend to my internal world today?
And are there areas where I could have supported myself more?
So as we sit here,
Let's take a little time to reflect on any of the ways we cared for ourselves today.
And investigate places that may have been neglected and need some more care tomorrow.
You could ask yourself,
Was I patient with myself today?
Did I meet myself with compassion and understanding during times of stress today?
Did I allow myself to pause and rest when I needed a break?
Did I spend time doing things that made me smile?
If you're having difficulty coming up with ways that you practice self-care today,
Remember you are doing it right now by sitting here,
Turning inward,
And reflecting.
And this is something you can do any time during the day when you're feeling overwhelmed,
Anxious,
Or simply in need of a break.
Giving yourself the gift of time to reflect,
Even if it is just for a minute,
That self-reflection can make a difference.
I think that by doing this kind of mini-exercise at the end of the day,
We're also setting ourselves up for more restful sleep.
And then we can even try to reiterate the ways we will practice self-care as we wake up tomorrow morning.
You could ask yourself,
How will I spend my energy tomorrow?
How will I care for myself tomorrow?
What will I endeavor to do that brings a smile to my face?
As we wrap up this meditation,
Can you set the intention to care for yourself tomorrow?
Can you think of one way that you will practice self-care?
It could be as simple as pausing and reflecting for a few moments,
Or maybe getting into the outdoors,
Or spending time with a loved one.
Something that brings you joy and peace and makes you smile when you think about doing it.
Thank you so much for taking the time to sit with me today.
I hope you find restful sleep tonight,
And that tomorrow you care for yourself in many ways.
Have a good night.
Take care.
