Turning Restless Thoughts Into Restful Breath

Speaker 1 · 0:00I'm Sean Fargo.

0:01Okay.

Speaker 1 · 0:03The reasons why it can be so hard to fall asleep at night. Because we often have these feelings of agitation, worry, planning. Notice this? Sometimes we're laying in bed, ready to go to sleep.

Speaker 1 · 0:23We just can't stop thinking about something, thoughts just keep coming in and out of the mind. Incessantly. Sometimes we can have the same thought over and over, and if we can't go to sleep, oftentimes there's this feeling of agitation that keeps increasing. One

Speaker 1 · 0:46of the practices that we'd like to explore today, the practice of gratitude, mindfulness practice of appreciating, things in our life, the things in our world, brings a sense of joy and happiness. Can help us to calm the body and the mind by focusing on that which is good or pleasurable. Can help tell the body to relax and soften. For now, for this evening, everything will be okay.

Speaker 1 · 1:34So to start this practice, I would like to invite you to be in any posture you like and to bring forth a thought of something that you're grateful for.

Speaker 2 · 1:50Something that you really truly appreciate. Maybe it's a person in your life. Maybe it was the weather today. Or a pet or an animal that you love. Bringing our awareness to those things that we're grateful for.

Speaker 2 · 3:40Maybe you appreciate that you have this time for yourself to relax, to wind down, to be able to find comfort in this moment with feelings of appreciation, warmth, safety and feelings of ease in the body. Appreciating each breath. Each inhale and exhale. Each beautiful breath.

Speaker 2 · 6:11Feeling thankful for this moment of ease and comfort and safety as we breathe and relax the body. Feeling comfortable inner body.

Speaker 1 · 7:20Feeling appreciation for this moment of ease and well being letting go of any tightness and just inviting a sense of warm appreciation of kind awareness of our breath and our body.