Meditation & Spiritual Growth

For the month of June, we will be reading The Four Agreements, A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, by Miguel Ruiz. The author reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love. The Four Agreements are: Be Impeccable With Your Word, Don't Take Anything Personally, Don't Make Assumptions, Always Do Your Best.

We will start our meeting with a mindfulness and meditation practice, then flow into discussing the book.

Listed below are some Practical Exercises for the 3rd Agreement: Don't Make Assumptions, to consider over the next week. Please bring your reflections to share with the group on July 30nd.

• Practice Inquiry: When you receive a message (verbal or non-verbal) that you might typically make assumptions about, pause and ask clarifying questions. For instance, if a friend seems upset, instead of assuming they are angry with you, ask, "I noticed you seem a bit off today; is there anything you’d like to talk about with me?"
• Awareness of Thoughts: During mindfulness meditation, focus on becoming aware of your thoughts and any assumptions that arise during the day. Notice when you jump to conclusions and gently bring your focus back to the present moment.
• Ask for Feedback: Approach friends or colleagues you respect and ask them for feedback about how you communicate. Inquire if they ever feel like you make assumptions in conversations, and how that might affect them. It takes courage to create a safe space for honest dialogue!
• Prepare for Conversations: Before a potentially difficult conversation, write a script that includes open-ended questions. This can help you stay focused on understanding rather than assuming. Example Questions: “How do you feel about this?” or “What do you think might be causing this situation?”

Please also read the 4th Agreement and we will start on discussion on it.

What to Expect:
· Guided meditations to center and ground yourself.
· Inspiring discussions and journaling exercises
· Practical tools to integrate spirituality into your daily life.
· Opportunities to share insights and learn from others.
· A warm, nurturing environment to build meaningful connections.

Who Should Join: Whether you’re new to meditation/spirituality or have years of practice, this group is for anyone who:
· Wants to deepen their spiritual practice.
· Is curious about mindfulness and meditation.
· Desires to connect with like-minded individuals.
· Seeks practical ways to integrate spirituality into daily life.

Cost: Suggested donation $10-20