Gratitude has so many different benefits.
It can help us reduce our negative emotions,
Increase our empathy for ourselves and others.
It helps us to have an improved outlook on life,
Boost our self-esteem,
Have the inner strength to deal with everything that comes up in life.
It helps us to sleep better and it can improve our overall health.
So let's take a moment today to really build resilience through gratitude in this meditation.
Find a comfortable position whether you sit down or lie down.
Take a few deep breaths.
Allow your chest to rise and fall.
Slowly just bring your awareness to your body and when you're ready,
Slowly close down your eyes.
And as you continue to breathe slowly and deeply,
Let your attention rest gently on your breath.
Feeling the movement as it enters and exits your body.
Each time you exhale,
Let go of any tension.
Relax your face,
Your shoulders,
Your belly and your legs.
Take a moment here to soften every muscle.
Let your eyes sink deeper into their sockets.
Un-cinkle your forehead.
Just bring that awareness to your breath.
Notice the ebb and flow here of the life force energy.
And as you now exhale,
Settle your awareness in the area around your heart.
Focus on feelings of love,
Empathy,
Forgiveness and compassion.
Notice a beautiful pinky green color and let that pinky green color just shine through your heart space.
Let that energy of love shine into the world.
Now with your attention on your heart center,
Bring to mind something or someone you are grateful for.
And as you continue with your easy,
Relaxed breathing,
Perhaps you feel grateful for being alive or healthy.
Perhaps you are grateful for the abundance of nature that produces food to nourish your body and beautiful scenery to nourish your soul.
Bring your awareness to those in your life who truly nourish you and how they bless you with their presence.
Feel gratitude for your own life and the many gifts you have been blessed with.
Now bring your attention to how this gratitude feels in the area of your heart.
And with every inhalation,
Let this feeling grow outwards.
Let this pinky green color flow into the world.
Expanding to fill your chest,
Fill your arms and your hands,
Your legs and your feet.
With every inhale,
This feeling of gratitude grows within you.
It fills you up and then you send it out into the world.
Imagine this pinky green love from your heart,
This absolute gratitude touching the people in your life.
It nourishes the earth you walk on,
The trees,
The animals,
The ocean.
Notice now how this gratitude and love grows and expands around the entire world.
And now as you return your attention to your breath,
Let your body remember the sensations of gratitude.
Let your heart remember this essence of sending love and gratitude out into the universe.
When you're ready,
Slowly start bringing your awareness to your breath,
To where you are sitting here or lying down.
Take a little moment to just take in that gratitude,
Take in the feelings.
When you're ready,
Slowly and gently open your eyes.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful practice of gratitude with me today.
My name is Stella Cooney.
Namaste.
