This short meditation is a gift of getting grounded in the knowledge of love inside ourselves, especially when we're not feeling it — an essential step towards the presence we desire to have in the world.
Dr. Vivek Murthy is the 21st Surgeon General of the United States. He also served in this role from 2014 to 2017. He hosts the podcast House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy. And he’s the author of Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World.
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So I'll share with you something that I do in my own life, a tool that I reach for when I'm having
those moments where I feel alone or I'm starting to feel the despair creeping in. It's very simple,
it takes about 15 seconds. So just raise your right hand and place it over your heart and
close your eyes. And I want you to think about the people who have loved you over the years,
the people who have been there for you during difficult times, who have supported you
without judging you, and who stood by your side even when it was hard.
Think about the people who have celebrated your moments of greatest joy with you,
the people who saw your successes as theirs, the people who derived such pleasure and fulfillment
from seeing you happy. Just feel their love flowing through you, lifting you up,
brightening your mood, and filling your heart. And know that that love is always there,
even if they're not physically with you, because you carry that love in your heart.
And know that you are and always will be worthy of that love. It came to you
because you deserved it. And now open your eyes. What you felt in that brief meditation,
that was the power of love. That is the power of social connection. That is our birthright.
It's who we were designed to be and what we were designed to experience.
All of us, regardless of what walk of life we're in, we have the ability to shine a light
on the bright spots, whether those are relationships that bring joy or movements
in our community that are helping grow connection. It's where we choose to focus our attention.
It's where we use our power to focus the attention of others
that ultimately determines whether or not we create more light in the world or more darkness.
