Impermanence

- Hi there, Darryl from Chill. Impermanence. A seemingly complex word, which is quite simple. Not permanent. Pointing to this idea and notion that change is constant. We live in a world that constantly changes. And with us struggling to keep things normal and the same, oftentimes it can leave us with a feeling of uneasiness and anxiety. Without change, however, things become stagnant. Think of a cup or a pool of water. If it is not refreshed, then it starts to grow molds and bacteria and is no longer drinkable. It needs movement. This is true in our lives as well. Opportunities, new beginnings live in the change that is there. The practice then if change is constant is to learn how to accept the change even regardless of our opinion of it, and thus foster an ability to appreciate the new beginnings and opportunities with an open mind and heart. Today's practice will be a contemplative practice. Reflecting on past opportunities and then seeing what is available to us today. So let's get started. Take a deep breath in through your nose. And as you exhale through an open mouth, let the eyes gently fall shut. Good. Two more breaths just like that. Breathing in, and out. Another full breath in. And as you exhale, closing the mouth allowing your breath to move in and out through the nose if that feels comfortable today. And take a moment to pause and let the body settle. Welcome the mind to catch up with your intention to meditate, letting go of whatever has transpired earlier in the day and what may await you and get present to the sounds, to the sensations of this moment. Welcome your attention with your next breath down to your hands, feeling them in the position where they are. No need to move them, just notice the pressure, the contact points of your hands in your lap or on your legs. Letting the sensation hold your awareness right here and right now. The mind is an amazing thing as it can focus on a sensation in the present moment, it can travel into the past, into the future. Oftentimes this happens without us choosing to do so. Today the invitation in this meditation is to consciously step back into your recent history. Think back a week, a month, a year even to changes that happened in your life, whether you chose them or not. Maybe even connect to the uncertainty, the anxiety or the anger. And now see if you can pause and step a few moments, a few days, a few weeks after that change and discover what the new opportunity, the new beginning was for you as a result of that change. This can even be an experience that you did not like. Chances are a new opportunity presented itself. What was it? Leave that opportunity and change moment and find another one in your recent history, exercising the mind to review, reflect and contemplate. See if you can discover a new beginning and opportunity in this recent change in your life. A generous breath in, and as you exhale, welcome your awareness back to this moment, feeling your hands in your lap, letting that sensation anchor you in this current time. Bringing this practice of contemplation now to the current day, is there a change that is happening right now in your world, in your life? You may appreciate, you may not like it, it may even be scary, but are you willing for the sake of practice to look at this change as an opportunity for something new? All that is required is a willingness. What new opportunity dwells in the midst of the change in your life right now? Acknowledge the courage that it takes to step forward and to witness what is possible. Release the need to figure everything out, and just step back a little bit further from this change moment that's currently in your life, and for the last few breaths explore, is there anything else? Any other opportunities or new beginnings that could arise from this moment of change. A generous inhale, and as you exhale, letting go of this change moment, bringing your attention back to the sensation of the hands in your lap. Another full breath in, and out. Closing with one more breath together, in through the nose, exhaling through an open mouth, allowing the eyes to slowly blink open. Continue meditations and moments of reflection and contemplation just like this one. Witness your capacity to handle and manage change, to expand more and more every day.