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Meditation enables you to accept discomfort instead of trying to smooth over or deny the bumps. You can accept embarrassment and shame, gently embracing whatever is there. Accepting yourself as you are is immensely liberating. As one of our teachers said, "Never be embarrassed by yourself."

Accepting and Loving Yourself!
Find a comfortable place to sit with your back straight and close your eyes.

Become aware of your breath. Silently repeat three times: "I am aware that I am breathing." Your breath is your best friend...the closer you are to your breath, the greater the feeling of inner peace.

Now bring awareness to your physical body. Silently repeat three times: "I am aware of the whole of my body." Visualize your body as if it were a temple...you live in this temple your whole life...know that your body is a blessing, a great gift.

Now focus awareness to the center of your heart...breathe into this space, into your heartspace...your heart is like a beautiful flower opening in the sun. Silently repeat three times: "I am aware of my heart opening."

Your life is a gift to be cherished...treasure yourself always. Silently repeat: "My breath is my friend...my body is my temple...my heart is open and loving."

When you are ready, take a deep breath and open your eyes.

Ed and Deb Shapiro are the authors of Be The Change, How Meditation Can Transform You and the World. They are featured weekly contributors to Oprah.com, HuffingtonPost.com and Care2.com. Ed and Deb write Sprint's The Daily CHILLOUT inspirational text messages. They have three meditation CDs: Metta: Loving Kindness and Forgiveness, Samadhi: Breath Awareness and Insight and Yoga Nidra: Inner Conscious Relaxation. Deb is also the author of the best-selling book Your Body Speaks Your Mind, winner of the 2007 Visionary Book Award.

Keep Reading More from Ed and Deb Shapiro:
Turn your fear into courage
How meditation can save your relationship
Can meditation be sexy?

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