Connecting With Our Deeper Purpose

In this practice, Theresa guides you through a practice of inquiry and intention. By asking the questions, 'What does it mean to love well?" and "What does it mean to let go?", we are more able to connect with our heart's wisdom and our deepest desires for our lives. We begin with mindfulness and settle into heart-centered breathing and gentle inquiry.

This practice can serve as a guiding light on the path of our lives.

Transcript

Welcome to this guided meditation practice. My name is Teresa. I'm really happy to have you here today, Joining in this practice together. Today's practice is on intention. Just setting our intention for our life. So we'll be settling into mindful presence and then connecting with the deeper purpose for our lives. And sometimes when we can connect with this intention, It can serve as a compass. Jack Kornfield refers to it as the heart's compass. And it can be a guiding light for any time in our lives, Specifically when we're feeling lost or not really knowing which direction to take. We can return to this practice, Connecting with our deeper purpose for this life. So allowing yourself to find a comfortable posture. If you'd like to lay down, You can lay down. You can sit in a chair, A cushion, Or a bench. Starting with a gesture of kindness towards ourselves by allowing our bodies to find a comfortable position. And if you'd like to close your eyes, You can close your eyes. Otherwise, Softening the gaze and looking a few feet in front of you. Beginning to settle into this moment, This moment that we've never had before. And we'll never have again. Remembering that this moment is the only moment we'll ever have. This eternal presence. And to the extent that we're able, Letting go of the past, Letting go of the future. And just for this moment, Can we settle into the here and now? We might begin to anchor ourselves into presence by asking the question, What is true right now in this moment? Starting with sounds. We might notice sounds that are close by. Noticing sounds that are further away. What is true right now in this moment? As we connect to our breath, What does just this one breath feel like? As I breathe in and I breathe out, Where do I feel the breath in my body? Remembering we don't have to fix anything or change anything. We're opening to how things are in this moment. One breath at a time. And noticing what we sense in the body. Noticing our feet and legs. Noticing the torso. Noticing the arms, The hands, The fingers. Becoming curious about sensations in the neck and the throat. Up into the head and the face. We might notice the state of the mind in this moment. What are the thoughts that we're able to observe without having to fix or change anything? We might notice images, We might notice words. Is it a busy mind? Are there few thoughts, Many thoughts? And to the extent that we're able, Letting go of any judgment or the shoulds, How we think things should be, Just for this moment, Opening to how they are. Bringing this kind attention, A curiosity, An openness, And beginning to drop our attention around the heart, The space around the heart. Beginning to imagine that we could breathe in and out through the heart space. So we inhale and the breath comes into the heart space and we exhale as it's released through the heart space. And drawing this breath into the heart and exhaling through the heart. And Jack Kornfield reminds us that in the end, Only three things matter. How well have we lived? How well have we loved? How well have we learned to let go? We'll begin to ask ourselves these questions as we continue to breathe through the heart space. We may not get answers in this moment. We're just planting the seeds with this inquiry. What does it mean to live well? Continue to breathe. Staying connected to the heart, The physical space of the heart, The energy of the heart, The heart of our being, The essence of who we are. What does it mean to live well? And it's enough to simply ask the question. Staying open to answers that will come in their own time. Staying open to the truth. Staying open to our own authentic answer. One breath at a time. What does it mean to love well? What would my life be like? What would it feel like if I loved well? And continuing to breathe through this heart space, Remembering that there's no right or wrong answer here. We're planting these seeds of inquiry and just staying open to whatever the answer is for you. And what does it mean to let go? Breathing in and out through the heart space as we ask ourselves this question. What does it mean to let go? Is there anything in our lives that is no longer serving? That we can let go of? Or at least begin to soften the grip on. This is a gentle process, Gentle inquiry. Breathing in and out through the heart. Imagining that we can breathe in a life well lived. Whatever that means for you. And that we can breathe out and let go of anything that no longer serves us. Breathing in, Whatever qualities will allow you to feel you're living your life in the way that you desire. Loving well, Living well, And exhaling and letting go. Letting go of anything that no longer serves. And if we're not ready to let go, That's okay. Just softening the grip a little bit. As we exhale, We can soften in the body. We can take a longer exhale, Just letting go. Continue this heart-centered breathing, Staying connected with the truth of the moment. With your deepest intention for your life. What will it be to live well and love well? And let go when the time is right. And making the practice your own for the next minute or two, Asking yourself the question, What is my deepest intention for my life? My deepest desire for my life? And we may receive an answer or clarity in this moment. We may not. Again, It's enough to ask the question and trust in our heart for this guidance. Continuing one breath at a time as we bring a close to the practice, Remembering these words from the Dalai Lama. As you breathe in, Cherish yourself. As you breathe out, Cherish all beings. Breathing in, We cherish ourselves. Breathing out, We cherish all beings. And whenever you're ready, You can open your eyes. If your eyes were closed, Gently move the body. Thank you so much for being with me today. I hope that this practice serves in many positive ways. And I hope that we can return to these questions in any moment of our lives. What does it mean to love well? What does it mean to live well? And what does it mean to let go? Remembering that this is a gentle process. We're trusting our lives as they unfold. Just as they should, Staying connected to the heart's compass, This deeper purpose and deeper intention for our lives. Thank you so much. Have a beautiful day.

Reviews

Thank you for this practice, Theresa. I have missed your recent live sessions due to commitments, but this and other meditations you’ve posted have been so helpful. I’ll be turning 74 in 2 weeks and these questions resonate as the journey through my evening years continues - memories, loss, joys, regrets and love met with the practice of metta, forgiveness, compassion and (hoped for) wisdom. Many thanks for your wise and kind guidance and best wishes to you and your dear ones as your journey continues. 🙏

This was really nice, I saw your upcoming live But was not sure I’d be able to make it, so I went to your profile page and looked up your tracks. Thank you so much for this.🙏🏼🌷💖