Feel The Cringe: Do It Anyway

A lighthearted but meaningful reflection on letting go of the fear of looking silly, embarrassing yourself, or being seen as “cringe.” This practice is an invitation to notice how often other people’s imagined opinions can quietly shape the way we live, and to loosen their hold.
Through a short talk and guided meditation, you’ll zoom out, reconnect with the bigger perspective of being here for one brief human life, and remember that your time is too precious to spend constantly editing yourself for an imaginary audience. Be enthusiastic. Be a beginner. Try the thing. Let yourself be seen. And if somebody thinks it’s cringe, perhaps you can do it anyway.

Transcript

Hello there. Thank you so much for joining me today. My name. Is Mark Rowland. There are probably things you'd quite like to do that. You've talked yourself out of for one very simple reason. That you're worried about what someone else might think. Maybe you want to wear something a little different. Stop. Making videos. Go to a class on your own. Dance when you hear a song that you love. Say something sincere, Get excited about something that other people might not understand. And then. . . A little voice arrives. What if I look ridiculous? What if somebody laughs at me? What if they think I'm cringe? And then suddenly. . . Instead of living the moment. You're watching yourself from the outside. And to be honest. . . I think we all do this to some degree or another. We imagine an audience that often isn't even there watching. And we edit ourselves. We hold back a little bit. We try to look cool and composed. But it is beautifully freeing remembering that. You are allowed to be human. You're a human being who enjoys things, You are allowed to be enthusiastic, You're allowed to be a beginner, You're allowed to to get it wrong and you're allowed to do something simply because it makes you feel alive. Of course this isn't about ignoring other people or. . . Being selfish or inconsiderate. If something genuinely affects somebody else, Then of course that matters. But somebody merely thinking you look a bit silly. That might not need to have quite so much power. So, For the next few minutes. I want to invite you to put down that imaginary audience and. . . Come back to the experience of being inside your life. See now if you can find a comfortable position. . . Whether that's sitting or laying down, And if it feels right for you. Allow your eyes to close. Taking a slow breath in. And let it go. Again breathing in breathing out. . . Letting your body settle into the place where you are. Feeling the support underneath you. And notice the simple fact that for these few minutes. You don't need to perform anything. There is absolutely nothing to prove here. And now bring to mind something you've really wanted to do or perhaps a way that you've been longing to express yourself. But you've held back because you were worried about how it might make you look. Keep it fairly light, Something harmless. Something that belongs to you. Maybe there's a part of you that has already said, That's really embarrassing… Oh, That's really uncool. People are going to judge me. I'll look stupid. Just notice that voice. You don't need to fight with it. Instead. Notice what happens when You imagine doing a thing anyway. Maybe there is a little bit of nerves Maybe a little excitement underneath it. Quite possibly, There is both. Now imagine zooming out from this moment. See yourself where you are right now. Then imagine the room around you. Then zoom out to the building around you. Keep zooming out to the street. To the town or city that you're in. Zooming out further you see the whole country and then the whole planet beneath you. One small world rotating quietly in space. Vast enormousness of space. And beyond that, Distances so vast that they're almost impossible to comprehend. Stars being born, Stars disappearing. Galaxies moving and expanding through space. And here. You are. You're alive now. For this brief glimpse of time. This wider view doesn't at all make your life meaningless. It reminds you how remarkable it is that you're here to experience any of this at all. How amazing is that? You. Get to feel things, You get to care. You get to love, You get to try. And sometimes you get to make a complete fool of yourself occasionally. And survive it. From this wider view. Allow some of that judgment that you've been carrying to become. Smaller. The passing opinion, The raised eyebrows, The rolling eyes or the possibility that somebody somewhere might think Well. . . That's a bit cringe. Let them. And imagine yourself doing the thing anyway. Wearing it. Makin' it. Trying it. Joining in. Speaking up. Showing enthusiasm, Whatever fits for you. Picture the moment after you stop holding back. The moment you realise that you don't actually need everybody else's permission. Notice how that feels in your body. Perhaps there is a little bit more space or there's a sense of relief. Or perhaps it simply feels a bit unfamiliar. And that's okay. Quietly say to yourself, I am allowed to enjoy my life. I am allowed to be seen trying. I do not have to look cool to be fully alive. Take one more slow breath in, And let it go. Begin to notice the room around you again. Any sounds nearby. The air on your skin, The weight of your body. Maybe move your fingers a little bit, Perhaps roll your shoulders if that feels good. And when you're ready. Let your eyes open. And just stay here for a moment. You don't need to rush away from. What you've just noticed. Because I think one of the strangest things we can do. Is spend years and years of our lives trying not to look foolish. As if there's some prize at the end for having remained perfectly composed. Spoiler alert, There isn't. Most people are far too busy thinking about themselves to spend much time thinking about you. In a nicest possible way, And even when somebody does judge you. Their opinion can pass through your life. Without becoming a set of instructions for you. So, The next time you catch yourself shrinking back from something harmless, Just because you're worried it might look a bit embarrassing, Just notice it. And ask yourself. Is this actually wrong for me or am I really just afraid of being seen for who I am, For what I want to do? And if it's a second one? Then maybe give yourself a little permission. Be Enthusiastic, Be Awkward B knew it something. Care too much and dance badly, Make the thing, Wear the thing. Say the kind things. Let somebody think it's cringe. You're not here to spend your whole life looking cool from the outside. You're here, My friend, To actually live it. Thank you so much for joining me today. If you'd like to, You're welcome to join my Insight Timer group, Meditating with Mark. It's just a place where you can share reflections and request any meditations or new courses you would like me to cover. You can find it by just searching in the group tab here on Insight Timer, Meditating with Mark. I'd love to hear from you. Have a beautiful rest of your day. Go in peace. Namaste.

Reviews

An important message: don’t hold back for something you feel others might consider awkward or out-of-the-ordinary. Be yourself and don’t assume to be always loved for being so. Thank you. Nanaste 🤓🙏🏻

Thanks for this