A guided meditation on ways to well-being: connect, be active, take notice, learn, give.
(The New Economics Foundation created The Five Ways to Well-being in 2008 – as a set of evidence-based actions that promote well-being in everyday life. These are: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Learn and Develop, and Give.)
Breathing in, I connect. Breathing out, I am aware of my connections. Breathing in, I am aware of my connections with family and friends, with ancestors, with the people in this community, with all people in all times and places. Breathing out, I am aware of my connections with the myriad creatures who inhabit my body and keep it functioning. Breathing in, I am aware of my connections with the plants and animals that provide me with food, with companionship, with beauty and joy. Breathing out, I am aware of my connections with the earth, the tides of the moon, the light and warmth of the sun. Breathing in, I am aware of my connection to my higher self. Breathing out, I am aware of my connection to that which I experience as sacred or divine. Breathing in, I am active. Breathing out, I am aware of my activity. Breathing in, I am aware of the activity of my body digesting its food. Breathing out, I am aware of the actions of my heart pumping blood to all parts of my body, supplying my cells with oxygen. Breathing in, I am aware of the activity of the synapses of my brain, creating thoughts. Breathing out, I am aware of the actions of my lungs, breathing. Breathing in, I take notice. Breathing out, I am aware of my noticing. Breathing in, I am aware of the sensations of my body touching the chair and my feet touching the floor. Breathing out, I am aware of the temperature in the room, how the air feels. Breathing in, I am aware of how the energy feels in this space. Breathing out, I am aware of my own presence in the world. Breathing in, I learn. Breathing out, I am aware of my learning. Breathing in, I am aware that even in this very moment, I am learning something new about myself. Breathing out, I am aware that in every interaction I learn something new about others. Breathing in, I am aware I am always learning about Life. Breathing out, I am aware I am always learning about the Source of Life. Breathing in, I give. Breathing out, I am aware of my giving. Breathing in, I am aware of the time and energy I give to myself. Breathing out, I am aware of the time and energy I give to others. Breathing in, I am aware of the care and attention I give to myself. Breathing out, I am aware of the care and attention I give to others. Breathing in, I am aware of the love I give to myself. Breathing out, I am aware of the love I give to others.
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