Thank You

As we prepare for our Thanksgiving holiday, we are reminded of those things for which we are grateful.  Of course, its important to remember and show gratitude for all of those things and all of those people every day, not just around the holidays.  A simple gesture, kind word, or smile has enough positive energy behind it to change the mood or outlook of someone you come across.  Try it today and see what happens.  

When you are playing bumper carts at the grocery store as you stock up on all of your Thanksgiving dinner needs, smile, and be thankful that you have the means to have food on your table.  When you catch yourself grumbling about having to park on the far end of the parking lot to do your holiday shopping, smile, and be thankful that you have a car to get you there and legs to carry you across the parking lot.  When you moan and groan about shoveling your driveway and sidewalk, smile, and be thankful that you have the strength to clear that path.  When you become irritated with travel delays on your way to visit family and friends, smile, and be thankful that you have family and friends to visit. And when you find yourself overwhelmed, tired, and stressed, smile, and be thankful that you have permission to sit down a take 5 minutes to practice this gratefulness meditation...

Sit comfortably, in a quiet spot, eyes closed.  Inhale slowly, letting your lungs fill completely with air.

Exhale slowly.

Continue breathing this way for several breaths, quieting your mind, relaxing your body.

With each exhale, let your bellybutton fall towards your spine, releasing any toxins or impurities that do not serve you.

Release attachment to thoughts and emotions, focusing on your breath.

Continue as you allow your body to relax and your mind to be still.

Inhale and draw a column of light in through your body in front of your spine.

Exhale, and see yourself surrounded by the light.

Continue to hold this image for 5 slow and steady breaths.

Now, with each inhalation bring your awareness to your heart center.

See light emanate from this sacred space.

As you exhale, allow the light to cleanse you and remove impurities, physical, mental, emotional.

Feel yourself glowing with the pure light that both fills you and surrounds you.

See the light flow effortlessly from your heart center.

Bathe in the light, feel it cleanse and renew you.

SAY TO YOURSELF SOMETHING FOR WHICH YOU ARE GRATEFUL

Bring that thing or that person into your mind’s eye, let it into your heart center. See…feel…hear…smell…that for which you are grateful.

Continue to hold it in your heart. As you inhale, breathe in these strong feelings of gratitude. With a strong exhale, send those feelings to that thing or that person. Do this for several breaths.

Continue to bathe in the light. Feel the warm embrace of peace and light.

Begin to bring your awareness back to this space. 

Slowly allow your eyes to open.

No matter how you say it, giving thanks and showing your gratitude is a positive emotion that unlocks the fullness of your energy.

Think gratitude, give gratitude, receive thanks and love.

Happy Thanksgiving!