Mindful Moment #05 - Generating Grace

THIS WEEK’S MINDFUL MOMENT:

Generating Grace

– A meditation by Amy Barth

When we consider how we might want to improve ourselves, be it physically or emotionally, spiritually within or materially external, the question always arises: How?

How do I get from here to there?

How do I effect change from this place I want to grow beyond to get myself to a place that is “better?”

Those of us who live a little too much in our own heads or who feel bogged down by life’s circumstances might get stuck at this step…the great abyss of “How.” It might be paired with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, anxiety, or a general sense of stuck-ness. We may have also been burned in the past, making any of those first steps toward something new feel more than a little daunting.

So, I want to offer you, and myself, grace.

What is grace?

Grace is one of those concepts that religious people hold out like a coat, “Here, have grace.” But I struggle with it feeling too much like the Emperor’s robe. I have always played along, nodding yes, saying “Oh, it’s exquisite! I will absolutely wear this home now!” But it was a little too imaginary for me to grasp, and what had been offered just evaporated before I got out the door.

In a sense, grace is forgiveness paired with acceptance, wrapped with encouragement, and filled with hope. When you can cultivate it, it becomes a place you can exist from, a garment you can pull on like your favorite sweater or a handmade quilt, or even something sharable like a cup of coffee you bought for a friend.

Activate your heart chakra

To grow yourself some grace, work from your heart chakra. Envision your heart like a flower bud that can bloom on command. When you breathe in, it opens ever so slightly, but when you exhale, it doesn’t close…it waits for the next breath and opens another fraction. Imagine this flower blossoming wider and bigger with each breath until it is at its brightest, fullest, most glorious bloom. Once it is there, you must imbue that heart focus with intention. From it, feel it overflowing with peace. From it, feel it pulsing with light. From it, feel it glowing with love.

Let it flow over you. Scoop some up for the sake of your own sense of mental clarity and happiness, boosting that serotonin to its fullest. Fill a mental cup to drink from throughout the day like a canteen. Send it out beyond you in all directions.

Once you feel this energy, assign an image or memory to it. Maybe your flower is a peony or a rose, a dahlia or a violet. Maybe this feeling reminds you of the sunrise or the full moon, a dragonfly or a horse. It doesn’t really matter, as long as the image helps you recall the sensation of this GRACE.

Moving forward

When you find yourself limited by “how” or stuck in reluctance, dip out some grace for yourself and use it to step forward. Use it to empower that leap of faith. Give it to that stranger who seems stuck in something themselves. It can be a crutch to get from woundedness to wholeness. It can be the balancing pole on that tightrope walk.

If it seems to start fading or closing, breathe it solid again, imagine it open again. Cultivate it into power again. Weave it into a robe and wear it home.

Namaste.

INSPIRATIONS

We’re feeling inspired by these incredible and thought provoking pieces:

How mindfulness-based training can give elite athletes a mental edge – With the Winter Olympics here, the spotlight returns to athletes’ mental health
What science still can’t explain about love – People say they know what they’re looking for in a partner. Relationship experts say otherwise.
Psychedelic-laced beer may have helped this ancient South American empire rule – Archaeological excavations at the Quilcapampa site in southern Peru, have found that the Wari used seeds from the vilca tree and combined the hallucinogenic drug with chicha, or beer made from the molle tree.

That’s all for today, y’all – remember, taking time to focus on you is an act of love.

We hope you found this helpful – don’t hesitate to reply with any feedback on how we can improve future Mindful Moments! We can’t wait to hear from you.