Just Breathe

This short, contemplative video invites you to pause the noise of everyday life and ask deeper questions about what your days are really becoming. Drawing on gentle narration and simple imagery, it explores themes of presence, choice, and the quiet gap between what we say we value and what our lives actually show. Viewers are guided through reflective questions about attention, relationships, work, and the kind of person they are becoming, with the aim of helping them see their own story more clearly and live a little more on purpose.

What if courage isn’t loud?In this talk, I share my lived experience with bipolar disorder through three manic episodes and many seasons of deep depression.Not as a story of strength, but as a story of staying.You’ll hear what it felt like when my own mind became unfamiliar.What it meant to face days I didn’t think I could survive.And how courage, for me, became something much quieter than I expected.This is not a story about having answers.It is a story about not giving up.If you’ve ever faced something that made you question whether you could keep going, this is for you.You are not alone.

Am I the only one who feels like I used to have more answers than I do now?

Psalm 63

A Psalm of David

Psalm 131 is one of the shortest and quietest psalms in Scripture.It speaks of humility, trust, and rest.Not striving.Not grasping.Simply being held.In this brief reading from the New International Version (NIV), we are invited to calm and quiet ourselves before God, like a weaned child resting in the presence of a loving parent.Listen slowly.Let the words settle.Allow a moment of silence to follow.Read by Dave GoodrichScripture: Psalm 131 (NIV)This reading is part of a simple rhythm of prayer and stillness.You are welcome to return to it whenever you need rest.If this space is meaningful to you, consider sharing it with someone who could use a quiet moment today.

Psalm 103 | A Gentle Reading with Space to BreatheToday’s episode offers a quiet reading of Psalm 103 from the NIV.Let these words invite you to slow down, notice your breath, and rest in the steady compassion that holds your life.A brief introduction.A full chapter reading.A moment of silence.A simple benediction.If this grounded you, feel free to share it with someone who might need a breath today.

A quiet reading of Psalm 34 from the NIV.A moment to breathe, settle, and return to God’s steady presence.May these words give you rest and strength today.

Psalm 46 carries the steady confidence that God is near when life shakes around you.These words have held people for generations:“Be still, and know that I am God.”Take a few minutes to slow your breathing, rest in the reading, and carry its peace into your day.Thank you for listening.

Psalm 27 | Read by Dave GoodrichA quiet reading of Psalm 27.A moment to breathe.A reminder that courage grows from presence, not pressure.Timestamps (5:00)0:00 — Opening breath and introduction0:22 — “The Lord is my light and my salvation…”1:10 — “One thing I ask of the Lord…”2:05 — “For in the day of trouble…”2:45 — “Hear my voice when I call, Lord…”3:30 — “I remain confident of this…”4:08 — Closing silence4:28 — BenedictionMay these words steady your day.

Psalm 121 | A Song for Travelers5:38Read by Dave GoodrichMusic: “Farelane” by Immersion and “Slow Coast” by SpheresA short space to breathe.An old prayer for people on the road.You’ll hear a brief intro, the full reading of Psalm 121, quiet moments to settle, and a gentle blessing to close.Timestamps0:00 Intro0:34 Psalm 121 (NIV)3:06 Moment of Silence4:18 Benediction5:38 EndIf this brought steadiness to your day, you can share it with someone who might need the same.

Psalm 23 | A Gentle Listening PracticeSettle in for a quiet reading of Psalm 23.Use this three-minute space to steady your breath and slow your mind.Timestamps0:00 Introduction0:18 Reading of Psalm 231:54 Moment of Silence2:28 Benediction2:55 ClosingCreditsVoice: ElevenReader “Jay”Music: “Aloen” by Drift Into BlissReturn to this whenever you need a brief pause and a grounded breath.

Psalm 118 | Just Breathe SeriesA short walk through Psalm 118 in the NIV.You’ll hear a brief introduction, the full chapter, a moment of silence, and a closing blessing.Take a breath. Settle in. Let the words meet you where you are.Voice: Jay (ElevenReader)Music: ALLUMARE by Marisan (Spa)Timestamps00:00 Introduction00:32 Reading of Psalm 118 (NIV)04:18 Moment of Silence04:48 Benediction05:30 End

Stillness in the BreathThis short practice brings you back to the simple rhythm of breathing.You slow down.You listen.You feel your body settle as the breath moves in and out.You follow the rise.You follow the fall.You let each cycle soften the noise inside you.Use this session when you feel scattered, tense, or far from yourself.Your breath becomes the anchor that brings you back.Timestamps0:00 Opening0:18 Settling the body0:52 Finding the breath1:35 Following the rhythm2:40 Space around the inhale3:30 Softening on the exhale4:25 Resting in stillness5:05 ClosingTake your time.Let your breath lead you home.

Take six minutes to rest in awareness. This meditation invites you to notice your thoughts without chasing them—to let them drift, soften, and dissolve into quiet. Stillness isn’t the absence of thought; it’s the presence of peace.🕯️ Come back to your breath. Come back to yourself.🕰️ Timestamps00:00 – Introduction: Finding stillness beyond the body00:48 – Guided Meditation: Watching thoughts drift by03:10 – Resting in awareness05:10 – Benediction: Stillness as presence, not absence06:00 – Closing chime🎧 Listen & BreatheUse headphones if you can, and let the gentle sounds, pauses, and silence guide you inward.✨ If this meditation helps you find calm, please like, subscribe, or share it with someone who might need a quiet moment today.🌿 Stillness in the Mind

🕊️ Stillness in the Body | A 6-Minute Guided MeditationIn this short practice, we return to the body — the place where stillness lives.Beneath the thoughts, beneath the noise, there’s a quiet pulse that never left.Let this time be a gentle invitation to listen, soften, and rest inside your own skin.Take a breath. Be here. Just breathe. 🌿⏱️ Timestamps0:00 – Introduction: The wisdom of the body0:42 – Settling in and finding your seat1:35 – Breath awareness and grounding2:30 – Listening without judgment3:45 – Softening into stillness5:15 – Benediction: The body as doorway✨ Subscribe for more moments of calm and presence.🎧 Headphones recommended.🔔 New meditations every week.#mindfulness #meditation #justbreathe #stillness

✨ Begin your day in quiet presence.In this 5-minute meditative poem, “Stillness in the Morning,” you’re invited to slow down, breathe deeply, and return to the calm beneath the noise. Let the words, sounds, and silences guide you back to yourself—before the headlines, before the hurry, before the world begins to speak.Take these few minutes to simply be.Let morning light touch your soul like a friend you almost forgot.🕊️ Listen with headphones for best experience.🎧 Soft music, gentle chimes, and moments of silence are woven throughout.0:00  —  Introduction0:25  —  Stillness in the Morning (Poem)4:10  —  Benediction4:55  —  Closing chime & silenceIf this moment brings you peace, consider subscribing or sharing it with someone who could use a breath of calm to begin their day.#JustBreathe #MorningMeditation #Poetry #Mindfulness #Stillness #GuidedMeditation #CalmMorning #SpokenWord #HealingThroughBreath #MeditationPoem⏰ Timestamps

Take six quiet minutes to reset your mind, release tension, and come back to center. This short midday meditation helps you pause, breathe, and find calm in the middle of a busy day — whether you’re at work, at home, or on the go.🎧 Length: 6 minutes, 42 seconds🎵 Focus: Breath awareness, grounding, gentle body release🕯️ Perfect for: Lunch breaks, work-from-home resets, or mid-afternoon stress relief0:00 – Introduction0:46 – Guided Meditation5:40 – BenedictionJust Breathe is a mindfulness and meditation series created by Dave Goodrich — a space to slow down, heal, and grow through stillness, story, and song. Each week offers a new reflection or guided meditation to help you come back to the present moment.🎧 Listen to the full series on Spotify or Apple Podcasts: [link coming soon]💚 Support the series and get early access on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/davegoodrich🌐 Learn more at: https://daveg.msu.domains🙏 If this meditation helps you, consider subscribing and sharing it with someone who might need a breath today.💬 Tell me in the comments where you’re listening from — and how you feel after this midday reset.#Meditation #Mindfulness #JustBreathe #MiddayReset #GuidedMeditation #CalmMind #MindfulLiving #Breathe🌿 Week 4: 5-Minute Midday Reset Meditation | Just Breathe⏱️ Timestamps💭 About This Series

In this calming evening meditation, allow yourself to release the weight of the day and drift into stillness. Through gentle breath, body relaxation, and a soothing poem, this practice is designed to help you unwind and prepare for deep, restful sleep.Take a deep breath, settle in, and let your soul be held in quiet peace.✨ The perfect way to close your day with calm and presence.⏱️ Timestamps0:00 – Opening & welcome0:38 – Poem for restful sleep1:40 – Guided body relaxation3:20 – Gentle imagery: thoughts as leaves on water4:15 – Poem (second reading, soft)5:20 – Closing benediction & evening blessing

Begin your day with intention and calm. This 5-minute guided meditation will help you center your breath, clear away mental fog, and step into your morning with clarity and peace. Let this be your gentle reset before you move into the flow of your day.✨ Subscribe for more weekly meditations and mindful reflections.🔔 Share this practice with someone who could use a moment of clarity today.Timestamps0:00 – Opening bell & welcome0:28 – Breathing and settling into presence1:15 – Inviting the light of morning2:10 – Releasing thoughts and finding focus2:55 – Choosing a guiding word for the day4:00 – Breathing into clarity4:35 – Benediction and closing bell

Take a gentle pause to begin your meditation journey. In this short guided session, you’ll be introduced to the practice of noticing your breath, softening into presence, and returning to the simplicity of being here now. No experience is needed — just you, your breath, and a few quiet moments of stillness.✨ Remember: every breath is a new beginning.0:00 – Welcome & getting comfortable0:20 – Beginning with the breath0:55 – Noticing sensations of breathing1:28 – Returning when the mind wanders1:55 – Closing benediction🙏 If this meditation helped you, please like, subscribe, and share with someone who could use a moment of peace today.⏱️ Timestamps

🌿 Welcome to Just Breathe 🌿This year, join me for a 12-month journey of guided meditations, poetry, and reflections—from Beginning Stillness to Presence & Awareness,from Healing & Release to Sleep & Renewal,and all the way to Reflection & Renewal.✨ Each month brings a new focus.✨ Each week, a short guided practice to help you find calm, clarity, and renewal.✨ Perfect for beginners and longtime practitioners alike.If you’re ready for a year of breathing deeper, loving freer, and living with more peace—subscribe and journey with us.🔔 Don’t miss a single session. Subscribe here: [Your Channel Link]💬 Share with someone who could use a moment of stillness.#Meditation #Mindfulness #JustBreathe

Theme: The contemplative life as your lifeFocus: Living as a walking prayer — rooted, open, and whole.Merton Anchor: “The monk is not a special kind of man, but every man is a special kind of monk.”In this final session of our 12-part series on Thomas Merton’s New Seeds of Contemplation, we close with a full-length meditation — weaving together the themes of the past weeks in a prayerful poem, a breath practice, and silence. Together, we remember that prayer is not something we do, but who we are.✨ If this series has been meaningful to you, I invite you to:Subscribe to the channel for the upcoming 12-Month Meditation “Just Breathe” Content CalendarShare this series with a friend who might need space to breatheReturn often to these meditations whenever you need stillness⏱️ Timestamps0:00 – Opening bell & music0:24 – Introduction: Your life as prayer1:50 – Settling into stillness2:30 – Poem-Prayer: All That We Have Become5:10 – Breath practice: Here I am / A prayer6:40 – Guided silence and reflection8:15 – Living as prayer in daily life9:20 – Closing benediction9:50 – Invitation: What’s next with Just Breathe10:06 – Final bell & silence🙏 Thank you for being part of this journey. May you go gently, go in peace, and go as prayer.

Pain can feel like the end of the story—but what if it’s also the beginning of transformation? In this episode of Just Breathe, we reflect on Thomas Merton’s reminder that the more we try to avoid suffering, the more we suffer. Together, we’ll open space to see pain not as punishment, but as a teacher—shaping the soul, softening the heart, and making room for compassion.Take a deep breath, listen in, and allow silence to hold you.⏱ Timestamps0:00 – Opening chime & introduction0:52 – Merton’s wisdom on suffering1:45 – Lament: the weight of pain2:50 – Turning pain into a teacher4:00 – Breath practice for courage & release5:00 – Benediction & closing chime✨ If this meditation resonates, please share it with someone who may need a gentle reminder that even in suffering, transformation is possible.

In this meditation, we step into the beauty of unknowing—releasing the need for answers and learning to live into the questions. Inspired by Thomas Merton’s wisdom, this practice invites you to breathe, rest, and carry poetic questions as gentle companions on the contemplative path.“If you seek understanding before you believe, you will never believe.” – Thomas Merton🕊️ Let go of certainty.🕊️ Trust the mystery.🕊️ Walk with wonder.⏱️ Timestamps:0:00 – Opening chime & settling breath0:35 – Invitation into mystery1:20 – Merton’s anchor quote2:05 – Releasing the need for answers2:40 – Poetic questions to carry3:45 – Breath practice: mystery in, certainty out4:25 – Silence & resting in the unknown5:10 – Carrying the questions as companions5:40 – Closing benediction & chime✨ If this meditation speaks to you, please share it with a friend and leave your reflections in the comments.

In this spoken poetic reflection, we return to Thomas Merton’s reminder that the cloister is not confined to monasteries—it can be found in our kitchens, buses, hallways, and breaths. This short meditation helps us recognize the sacred in the ordinary, turning daily life into a rhythm of stillness, presence, and prayer.0:00 – Opening bell & welcome0:20 – Introducing today’s theme: The World is My Cloister0:55 – Merton’s reminder: finding others in God1:30 – Everyday places as our monastery2:15 – Breath rhythm: This is holy / God is here3:10 – Sounds, faces, and places as sacred bells3:45 – Benediction: may every step be a prayer4:10 – Closing bell & silence✨ Wherever you go, your life can be a monastery.⏱️ Timestamps

In this gentle meditation, we explore the sacred that lives in the ordinary — in dishes, laundry, and the hum of a daily commute.Guided by Thomas Merton’s reminder that “The spiritual life is first of all a life,” we practice noticing beauty, presence, and God’s nearness in the simple moments we often overlook.Take a few minutes to slow down, breathe, and discover the holiness woven into your everyday life.Timestamps:0:00 – Welcome & introduction to the theme0:42 – Reflection on Merton’s words1:15 – Imagining the sacred in ordinary tasks2:18 – Guided breath & body awareness3:45 – Remembering the sacred in daily life4:35 – Closing benediction

Session 7: Love That Sees the SoulIn this episode, we reflect on Thomas Merton’s wisdom: “The beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves.” Through a gentle, letter-style spoken prayer, we explore how to cultivate a love that honors the sacred in others—and in ourselves.Take a few minutes to breathe, listen, and let your heart be opened to a love that sees beyond appearances, beyond performance, to the soul itself.⏳ Timestamps00:00 – Opening chime & welcome00:25 – Merton’s invitation to love01:05 – A prayer for seeing the soul in others02:36 – A prayer for being gentle with ourselves04:00 – Love as a wide, open field05:05 – Closing blessing & final chime🌿 “May our love never be a cage, but a wide field under an open sky.”#justbreathe #ThomasMerton #meditation #love #contemplation

🧘‍♀️ Session 6: “Learning to Let Go”Theme: Detachment and TrustFocus: Releasing control and letting go of grasping in order to receive graceAnchor Quote: “We must be content to live without watching ourselves live.” – Thomas MertonIn this longer-form guided meditation, we explore what it means to surrender. To loosen the grip. To stop striving. And to begin trusting—really trusting—that grace is already at work beneath the surface.We’ll move slowly, with intention.We’ll breathe deeply, with space.And we’ll practice the sacred art of letting go.This is a space to come as you are.To release what you’re carrying.And to remember: you are already enough.🔔 Gentle bowl chimes, soft ambient music, and extended silences accompany this session.⏰ Timestamps:00:00 – Opening & theme01:15 – Settling breath02:30 – Where are you holding on?04:15 – Invitation to loosen the grip06:00 – Reflection on Merton’s wisdom07:45 – Letting go into grace10:15 – Benediction: Trust, grace, and freedom11:35 – Bowl chime to close🎧 Best experienced with headphones and minimal distractions.🌬️ Come with nothing. Leave with peace.🙏 Just breathe.

🕊️ Just Breathe – Session 2: “The False Self Falls Away”Welcome to Session 2 of our 12-part guided series inspired by Thomas Merton’s New Seeds of Contemplation.Today we reflect on identity and illusion, naming the masks we wear and gently letting them fall away to make room for our truest self.Merton writes,This poetic meditation is an invitation to release the names we’ve carried that are no longer ours, and return—breath by breath—to the deeper self that remains.Come as you are.No fixing. No striving.Just breathe.🧘‍♂️ Mode: Guided Reflection / Poetic Meditation📖 Theme: Identity and Illusion🎧 Best experienced with headphones and minimal distractions⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Opening Bell & Welcome00:22 – Breathwork and Settling01:00 – Introduction to the False Self01:43 – Naming the Masks We Wear02:25 – Releasing Old Labels03:28 – Spaciousness and Stillness04:22 – Who Are You Without the Mask?05:08 – Sacred Listening05:50 – Benediction & Blessing06:30 – Closing Bell🙏 If this session spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a gentle breath today.💬 Let us know what name or mask you’re releasing in the comments below.🧡 To support or follow the full series: [Patreon link or website]#JustBreathe #GuidedMeditation #FalseSelf #ThomasMerton #Mindfulness #SpiritualPractice #PoeticMeditation“Every one of us is shadowed by an illusory person: a false self.”

🕊️ Be Still & Begin | Session 1 of 12Welcome to the first meditation in a 12-part series inspired by Thomas Merton’s New Seeds of Contemplation.This 4-minute guided reflection is an invitation to silence, presence, and the mystery of the inner life.“Contemplation is the highest expression of man’s intellectual and spiritual life.” — Thomas MertonWhether you’re new to contemplation or returning to it with fresh eyes, this short practice offers a gentle beginning. With ambient music and bell chimes to ground your experience, you’re invited to pause… breathe… and awaken to the sacred stillness already within you.🌿 What to Expect:– Gentle breathing and body awareness– Anchoring in the present moment– A spacious, welcoming tone– A benediction to carry into your day⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Intro: An Invitation to Stillness00:30 – Merton Quote + Opening Reflection01:00 – Guided Breathing & Settling01:45 – Returning to Presence02:30 – Embracing the Mystery Within03:15 – Benediction: Carrying Stillness Forward04:00 – Outro + Music Fade📌 New meditations every week.💛 Support the series + share your experience: [Patreon link here]🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications to journey with us.#meditation #thomasmerton #contemplation #mindfulness #guidedmeditation #justbreathe

Welcome, friend.This is your invitation to slow down, breathe deep, and begin again.I’m offering a free 12-part meditation series inspired by Thomas Merton’s New Seeds of Contemplation — a book that has stirred the hearts of seekers and mystics for generations.Each week, we’ll share a moment of quiet reflection — sometimes a meditation, sometimes a poem, a song, or a heartfelt conversation — centered around one of Merton’s themes: solitude, silence, divine love, the false self, suffering, presence, and more.This series is offered freely on my Patreon as a gift.All I ask in return is your honest feedback and, if it resonates, that you share it with those you love.✨ Sign up here (for free): [Insert your Patreon link]✨ 12 sessions, released weekly — beginning soon.Whether you’re new to Merton or simply in need of some space to breathe and reflect, this series is for you.Thanks for being here.Let’s begin.#Meditation #ThomasMerton #Contemplation #Mindfulness #JustBreathe #SpiritualPractice #PatreonSeries #NewSeedsOfContemplation #Stillness #PoetryAndPrayer

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When someone you care about is struggling but won’t let you in, it can leave you feeling helpless and heartbroken. This gentle, prayerful meditation offers a space to breathe, release, and find peace in loving without control. Let go, lift them up, and just breathe. 💛#Meditation #Friendship #JustBreathe #PrayerfulMeditation #LetGoAndTrust

In this episode of Just Breathe, we hold space for the tender moments when something comes to an end—whether it’s a season, a relationship, or a part of ourselves we’ve outgrown. Through a gentle guided meditation, you’ll be invited to honor what’s passing and make room for what’s next.💫 This practice is for anyone navigating change, sitting in uncertainty, or learning to let go.✨ Let this meditation help you breathe through the endings and trust in the beginnings.🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe and click the bell so you never miss an episode.🧘🏽‍♂️ Take your time. Breathe deep. You are still becoming.Chapters:00:00 Introduction01:10 Settling In04:20 Holding the Ending05:15 Imagining the New06:45 Benediction🎧 Listen. Breathe. Heal. Grow.#GuidedMeditation #LifeTransitions #Mindfulness #JustBreathePodcast

In this spoken word meditation, Dave reflects on the opening line—“Who can comprehend each mystery of the vast created universe?”—and follows it into a poetic exploration of awe, faith, and our longing to understand what lies beyond understanding. Set to a contemplative rhythm, this piece blends psalm-like reverence with honest questioning. It’s an invitation to walk through the world not with certainty, but with wonder.

In this quiet morning meditation, we explore the tender, transformative practice of forgiveness—not as a one-time event, but as an unfolding journey toward peace. Whether you’re working to forgive someone else or yourself, this practice offers space to breathe, reflect, and begin letting go. With guided affirmations, gentle breathwork, and a soft benediction, this episode invites you to release what no longer serves you and step into the day with a lighter heart.🎧 Take a few moments. Find stillness. Just breathe.

In this episode, we slow down with a quiet poem about deep gratitude—the kind that lives in everyday moments, shared laughter, and silent strength. Let this reading be a gentle reminder of the beauty that surrounds us, the grace we carry, and the thank you waiting within.

In this quiet moment together, we reflect on the words of Philippians 4:6—“Do not be anxious about anything…”—and practice letting go of what we cannot control. Through breath, prayer, and a posture of thanksgiving, this guided meditation helps us release anxiety and return to a place of peace and trust. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or simply need a gentle reset, this episode offers space to breathe, to be, and to be held.

In this episode, I share a poem called what slips through—a gentle invitation to release the need for control and to trust the quiet wisdom of letting go. It’s a reminder that peace often arrives not by holding tighter, but by loosening our grip. Let this poem be a breath of stillness in the midst of uncertainty.

a meditation that invites listeners to release the illusion of control while still holding space for peace and possibility.

In this heartfelt episode, I share a personal tribute to my Grandma Goodrich—my favorite person in the world. Through a poem inspired by her own words and a reflection I wrote for her funeral, I honor the legacy she left behind: a life rooted in faith, love, and quiet strength. Her poetry, her presence, and her unwavering hope continue to guide me. This is a story of loss, of gratitude, and of the beauty she left blooming in all of us.

A spoken word reflection for the in-between moments. This poem is for anyone standing at a crossroads, unsure of the way forward. It’s soft, honest, and rooted in trust that clarity comes—eventually, and often quietly.

In this episode, we slow down and hold space for the uncertainty of what comes next. This guided meditation invites you to pause, listen deeply, and reconnect with your own quiet wisdom. No pressure to decide—just room to breathe and notice what’s stirring.

In this episode of Just Breathe, we slow down and honor the quiet spaces we make in our lives — the ones that help us breathe, reflect, and remember what truly matters. Through gentle guidance and stillness, you’re invited to return home to yourself, one breath at a time.

MSU does it right

In this episode of Just Breathe, you’re invited to release the pressure to perform, solve, or strive. Through a gentle meditation on softening, you’ll practice letting go—of tension, expectations, and self-judgment. Settle in, breathe, and remember: you don’t have to hold everything right now. You’re allowed to just be.

In this first episode, Dave welcomes you to Just Breathe, a space for slowing down, healing, and finding your footing in the chaos of everyday life. You’ll be guided through a calming mindfulness meditation to help you stay grounded during noisy and challenging times. The episode closes with a heartfelt benediction, pointing you toward a higher power worthy of your trust.Whether you’re new to mindfulness or just need a quiet moment to breathe, you’re invited to come as you are.