Day 24 - December Meditations - Excitement

"Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities.  Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning." ~ Gloria Steinem

I woke up this morning getting ready to go visit family and sensed a familiar yet distant energy.  It was the excitement energy of my childhood around the holidays.  This is something that feels so good and energizes me.  It gave me pause to realize that this energy doesn't need to be distant or reserved for one time a year, this excitement can be cultivated into my daily living and practice.  

So let us begin today by diving deep into a meditation of excitement!  Click here to download.

Affirmation:  Today I welcome the excitement of my inner-child to dream and wonder of the possibility that is my life.

Day 22 - December Meditations - Giving

"If you want to be unhappy think of yourself.  If you want to be happy, think of others." ~Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche

Affirmation:  Today I give and think of others.  I cherish my friends and family.

As I prepare to move into celebrating Christmas with my family, I found myself a bit frustrated about the gifts I hadn't bought yet.  I was upset that I waited so late, but I still have time today and tomorrow to prepare, however, I found myself even more upset due to the fact that I want more money to spend on presents right now.  I didn't enjoy feeling so frustrated, but then was drawn to the quote above preparing to meditate and discovered I wasn't thinking of others really, I was thinking of myself with the gift giving.  As I shifted my attention to the connection I have with my friends and family, the frustration lifted.  I once again am feeling excited about shopping and know whatever I can give and afford is enough.

Join me in a meditation on giving to anchor in the love of the season instead of the pricetag.

Day 20 - December Meditations - Allowing

"Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are." ~Malcom S. Forbes

What if you actually allowed yourself to be you today?  Valuing and allowing more time, energy and attention to land on who you are as opposed to what you are not."

Join me today in meditating and affirming your "enoughness".  

Download the meditation here.

Affirmation:  I value who I am today and let that be enough.

Day 19 - December Meditations - Self Appreciation

"The greatest gift Life could have made to you is yourself." ~Ernest Holmes

"Lovin' you is easy 'cause your beautiful." -Minnie Ripperton & Richard Rudolph

In the mid seventies Minnie Ripperton released the song Lovin' You (if you've never heard it, you must, pure 70's gold).  Here in Chicago, the Bodhi Spiritual Center sings the chorus of this song "Lovin' you is easy 'cause your beautiful" every sunday to people that have come to service for the first time.  Can you imagine the experience of life you would have if you sang those lyrics to yourself everyday?  That would truly be appreciating the greatest gift Life ever gave you...yourself.  In the act of appreciating self, we instantly shift our awareness and attention and make ourselves more receptive to ALL of the gifts that life is giving us everyday through ourselves and others.

Join me in loving you.  It is pretty darn easy, 'cause you're so beautiful!

Affirmation: "I appreciate all that I was, am and will be.  I am a beautiful being of the universe!