Monday mornings. The groan-inducing alarm, the looming to-do list, the feeling of starting all over again. But what if we reframed it? What if Mondays weren’t the enemy, but 52 chances a year for a fresh start, fueled by the magic of mindful breaths? 52 new waves of potential to ride.
Your Monday morning thoughts set the tone for the whole week ahead. Take a deep breath, look out at the week ahead and see yourself. See how you’re showing up this week, see how you’re growing stronger. See how you’re finding it easier to draw your strength from being present, from being exactly who you are, and exactly where you are.
Thich Nhat Hanh – mindfulness master – is our teacher for this whole week. And we’re starting off with the beautiful perspective that he shares, to not miss out on the real miracles that life offers us every day:
“Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts. Whenever your mind becomes scattered, use your breath as the means to take hold of your mind again.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“Around us, life bursts with miracles – a glass of water, a ray of sunshine, a leaf, a caterpillar, a flower, laughter, raindrops. If you live in awareness, it is easy to see miracles everywhere. Each human being is a multiplicity of miracles. Eyes that see thousands of colors, shapes, and forms; ears that hear a bee flying or a thunderclap; a brain that ponders a speck of dust as easily as the entire cosmos; a heart that beats in rhythm with the heartbeat of all beings. When we are tired and feel discouraged by life’s daily struggles, we may not notice these miracles, but they are always there.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“Wherever we are, any time, we have the capacity to enjoy the sunshine, the presence of each other, the wonder of our breathing. We don’t have to travel anywhere else to do so. We can be in touch with these things right now.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in a way that these twenty-four hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and others.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“Breathing in, I am aware that I am breathing in.
Breathing out, I am aware that I am breathing out.
Breathing in, I am grateful for this moment.
Breathing out, I smile.
Breathing in, I am aware of the preciousness of this day.
Breathing out, I vow to live deeply in this day.”
– Thich Nhat Hanh
So set your goals, work hard, become clear about what you want and “crush it” this week … and also … take the time to savour your morning coffee, feel the wind on your face during a walk, acknowledge the people and things that make your heart sing – these small moments are not small, they hold immense power.
Mantras for a miraculous Monday:
- My breath is my anchor.
- I choose to see the miracles around me.
- Today is a gift, 24 hours to fill with joy.
- One mindful breath, one step at a time.
Remind yourself to stop, turn away from what you’re busy doing and take a few moments to just breathe, multiple times every day. Whenever your mind becomes too scattered, it is your breath that will bring you back to clear thinking.
Have a beautiful week!
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Jumpstart the week!