Hi friend.
Today we are going to do a reflection exercise.
It is best to do this through journaling.
I suggest using a pen or pencil and paper for this exercise.
We use a different part of our brain when we write by hand than typing or simply reflecting.
So if that is available to you,
I suggest pausing this track so you can do this.
Take a few deep slow breaths and settle in.
Make sure you're comfortable.
It's important to explore imperfections here,
So let mistakes be there and don't worry about style,
Grammar,
Or sentence structure.
This is about not editing.
Most importantly,
Don't stop.
Try to use a stream of consciousness.
Just fill out one page and then fill out another if you have time.
I will pause between each question to give you time to journal and reflect.
Answer the following questions.
1.
What are you feeling right now or today that you have been telling yourself you shouldn't feel?
2.
What are some of the things that make you feel not normal?
What do you feel when you focus on those things?
3.
What are the negative beliefs and messages you find yourself constantly returning to in your daily life,
Perhaps that you're not enough,
Too much,
Too fill-in-the-blank?
4.
Who is someone who gave you compassion when you felt you least deserved it?
What did it feel like in your body to receive it?
What would it feel like to have it for even an hour every day?
Now look through those messages and see if you can develop some opposites that resonate for you.
Research shows that these messages can work better in the second person.
For example,
Go through and instead of I,
Say you when referring to yourself.
If you said I didn't feel I was enough,
Turn it around to you are enough.
Or I feel like I can never achieve anything,
To you're doing the best you can.
Or everyone thinks I'm a failure to say you're amazing.
Now go through everything you wrote and turn anything negative around in the same ways as the examples I provided.
If it was already positive,
Great.
Reinforce it.
I will give you some time to do this.
Write down whatever springs to mind as a message you want or need to hear.
Say them all silently to yourself or out loud.
We will slowly come back to the present environment.
If you need more time,
Feel free to pause the track.
Take this positive reflection forward.
Know you are worthy of treating yourself with kindness,
Understanding,
And empathy as you would treat others,
As well as having them treat you the same in return.
Take care my friend.
