Starting Now...

This week, people all over the planet are looking back at 2019 and looking forward to 2020. I’m asking myself to do this from a compassionate and present-centered perspective. You are invited to do the same.

The present moment offers the most powerful ability to be aware, to understand and accept, to let go, and to change. Remember the Serenity Prayer ?

[G], grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,

And wisdom to know the difference.

Experiencing compassion in the present moment seems to offer wisdom. The experience of compassion in the present moment is pure & powerful, rich & fulfilling, clarifying & peace-giving. The question now is - how do we get there… here?

Here’s a method I like to use. Try this and let me know how it works for you…

Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in this brand new breath. Breathe out what’s ready to be released - give way for the next inhale, the next brand new breath. Breathe this brand new breath in. Breathe out.

Breathe in acceptance for whatever arises inside. Breathe out. Breathe in acceptance for this thought that’s arising. Breathe out. Breathe in acceptance for this emotion rising up. Breathe out. Breathe in acceptance for this sensation you’re feeling. Breathe out. Keep breathing and observing what comes up.

Become a non-judgmental observer. Observe (even) judgment when it comes up. Breathe in & out as you witness the one who is breathing, thinking and feeling. Become the observer of an innocent child who you adore - the child who is breathing. Become the heart-centered Wise One observer. Non-judgmentally hold the child in your arms, in your heart space. Breathe in & out the humor, the pain, the adulation of the child’s judgment. Breathe in & out the growth opportunity of realizing bias, as you observe it rise. Breathe in & out the beauty of the process of change. Breathe in & out as the child in your arms, in your heart space, grows.

Breathe in & out this thought- the one you’re having right now. Invite the thought (and all other thoughts that follow it) with you, into this breath. Invite the thoughts to experience themselves as they are, while breathing in & out.

Breathe in & out this emotion - the one that’s rising right now. Invite the emotion (and all other emotions that follow it) into your heart space, into the chest area, into the lungs, & into the breath. Invite the emotions to experience themselves as they are, while breathing in & out.

Breathe in & out this body sensation - the one that your body is having right now. Let it move you - a micro adjustment here, an opening between the vertebrae there. Invite breath in & out of the body sensation. Invite the body sensation into the breath.

Breathe into your body and breathe out into the air around you. Breathe in & out this air that connects your inside and the outside. Breathe into the connection - in & out - until you can barely decipher skin between the two.

Breathe in & out the air that connects you and the plant world. Breathe in the oxygen the plant world is exhaling; exhale the carbon dioxide they are inhaling. Imagine a plant inhaling carbon dioxide; the oxygen & nitrogen it exhales. Imagine the oxygen you are inhaling, right now; the carbon dioxide you are exhaling, right now. Imagine the exchange between you and a plant, you and a tree, you and grass, you and Nature. Imagine and feel (if you can) your connection to each other through the breath.

Breathe in & out - your connection to animals and to other people. …to particles in the breath that came from rocks, the earth, the water, the air. …to the past, the present, and the future. …to what you know and what you don’t know. Breathe in & out of the Energetic Field that holds all.

Breathe in & out of who you believe you have been and who believe you are. Breathe in & out of the shoulda's, wouldas, and couldas. Breathe in & out of the hopes, dreams and possibilities. Breathe in & out of whatever comes up.

You may find yourself breathing in & out of joy, anger, forgiveness, acceptance, appreciation… and ultimately, compassion. Search for and invite parts inside that are hiding in shame or fear. Invite them compassionately into your heart space. Bring all your parts into compassion. Bring your whole self into this breath.

Now, look back. From this compassionate presence ask: What has happened to land me here (in this present moment, situation, way of life)? Ask: What circumstances were not in my control? In contemplating this, you’ll better understand where you can forgive yourself. In contemplating this, you’ll better understand where you might put your energy to create change in the world around you.

From compassionate presence, ask: What parts did I play? When the compassionate-hearted Wise One asks this, the answers will inform you of who you don’t want to be anymore; how you might learn & grow from experience; and where/how/when to step into more and more of who you would like to be.

Now, look forward. From this compassionate presence, ask: What do I want to work toward? What are the steps I need to take to get there? What is the first step I can take starting now?