This week, Carly Hauck challenges us to look within ourselves, identify what we love most, and align it with our values.
By connecting with your heart and remembering who and what you love, you also connect with your inner compassion and protective instincts. This compassion within you will motivate you to choose beneficial actions, not just once, but throughout the days, weeks, and months of your life.
This beautiful practice offers the beginning of a journey to living the value of compassion more deeply, serving both ourselves and others in the process. We ask: “When I love what I love, how does that contribute to the greater good?”
Guided meditations to help you connect with what matters most to you
Start by sitting comfortably. Notice your feet on the floor, sitting upright, yet in a calm posture. Drop your shoulders back and move your neck from side to side, allowing you to really release any tension or stiffness and come back to your body. Breathe in and out slowly from your heart. If it feels comfortable, you can place your hand on your heart. Or you can just notice the feeling of energy around your heart as you breathe in and out. As you feel the connection to your heart, begin to say silently in your mind what you love. It might sound something like this: I love, I love, I love. Notice what comes easily to you as you think about what you love. Continue this process, noticing all the things that come and go. Of all the things you love, what do you love so deeply that you would fight to protect it? There may be many, but for this exercise, choose just one for now. Notice how that answer feels in your body. Do you have this strong inner knowing? And where is it in your body? It might be in your heart. Or in your stomach, or in your hands, or in your feet. Or maybe this very strong feeling that runs through your body, “Yes, this is what really matters to me.” Now, begin to feel these physical sensations expand into love and compassion, and into your commitment to protect what you love. Feel that energy expand out from your body, as if there is this commitment, this light that emanates from a deeper knowing. Now, how can you align your greater action around what you love in your life? Take a moment, let go of judgment, and notice what comes up. How can you take more action in your life, centered around what you really love? Now, imagine. What would it look like to do this action, every month, every week? This is not an extra thing on your to-do list. This is coming from a deeper sense of what matters, a deeper motivation. What can you commit to today as a first step? How can loving what you love support a cause? How will this benefit others?As a first step to acting in line with your heartfelt commitments, it is important to name what your commitments are. Try saying, “I am committed to…” and see what comes to mind. Think monthly, weekly, daily. What action steps are you committing to in line with this deep truth about what really matters? Now share these commitments with two other people in your life. Who are these people? Notice who comes to mind who you would be excited to share this with. Having your commitment witnessed creates support and accountability, helping you follow through on your actions. Open your eyes when you are ready. Start wiggling your fingers and toes on your chair. Before you move on to the next activity, take a few minutes, preferably 10, to write down what has emerged from this exercise. What are you committed to? What action steps are you taking? Who are you sharing your commitment with? Be the light and let the light shine.
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