Welcome to the magical inner journey,
The inner critic.
So let's begin by taking a deep breath and just become present to where you are right now in this time and this place,
Paying attention to your breathing and allowing your eyes to gently close.
And just give your body permission to relax and be comfortable for this next several minutes.
Give yourself permission to slow down,
Slowing down your breathing,
Slowing down the rush of thoughts that are always in your mind,
Becoming present to yourself through your breath,
And just allowing your body to experience the contact that it makes with the chair that you're in or the bed or the couch that you're on or the floor.
And just taking a moment to adjust your body in any way that you need to so that you can really truly be comfortable.
And as you're tuning in to the rhythm of your beautiful breath,
Imagine that when you inhale,
You're inhaling a little bit of the sky.
And it's very clear and bright and refreshing.
Every time you inhale,
Let sky fill your body with lightness and openness and clarity and ease.
And as you exhale,
Imagine that you're letting go of everything that's old and stale and stressful.
Every time you exhale,
Just let go of any voices that say you can't,
You won't,
You shouldn't.
So inhaling the light clear sky and exhaling that which is causing you stress.
Inhaling and exhaling.
Your breathing is slowing down now.
Each breath that you take relaxes and refreshes you.
Your breathing and your mind are becoming clearer and clearer,
More and more open.
Your body relaxes a little bit more with each inhale and each exhale.
Allow your imagination to be open and receptive now.
Breathing in and breathing out.
Now imagine yourself driving in a beautiful car,
Whatever that means to you.
Whatever kind you want it to be,
Whatever color you want it to be.
You're driving down a sunny Southern California street.
Palm trees waving gently in the breeze as you pass.
And you just have the feeling that all is right with your world.
Just driving along.
Feeling safe and secure in your wonderful car.
And feel your body as it rests against the car seat.
No one is in the car but you.
The radio is tuned to your favorite station.
Or maybe you've turned off the radio.
Just listen.
What do you hear as you drive along this beautiful California street?
What do you hear?
Can you smell exotic flowers as you drive by homes with beautiful gardens?
Can you smell the salty Pacific Ocean?
And notice how you're feeling as you're driving your own beautiful car.
In control,
Happy,
Powerful.
And up ahead on the left you notice the parking lot of a large motion picture studio.
So you're getting closer to the parking lot now.
It's on the left side of the street.
So turn your left signal light on.
And go ahead and turn into the parking lot.
Stop at the gate and cheerfully tell the attendant there your name.
Listen as you hear the sound of your name in your own voice.
So you're telling him your name and he smiles at you and waves you in.
Now drive your car into the parking space that's closest to the main entrance of this movie studio.
And notice that in the center of this parking space is a large bright yellow star with your name inside it in glittery letters.
And now just take your time.
Get out of the car,
Closing the door.
And make your way into the big front entrance of this movie studio.
And as you get inside you're in a large spacious lobby.
And you notice lots and lots of people bustling all around.
And as you watch them you realize that you are on the set of a very important film.
And that film is telling the story of your life.
You are not only the star of this film,
You are also its director.
So find your way through the lobby to the actual movie set where the filming is happening.
And now that you're on the set,
Notice that across the set you can see your director's chair.
It's a very special chair with an oak frame and a blue canvas seat and back.
As you get closer to it and you're approaching it from behind,
You notice that your name is embroidered on the back of the chair in beautiful bright colors.
As you get closer and closer to it,
You're admiring your beautiful name on the chair.
And once you're right behind it,
You realize that something isn't quite right here.
There is someone else sitting in your director's chair.
Your inner critic is occupying your director's chair.
And not only that,
She's actually directing your film.
Stand aside for a moment and watch your inner critic.
Look up at the set,
Notice what part of your life is being filmed right now.
And notice how your inner critic is actually directing this part of your life.
Notice what she's saying about this part of your life and how she thinks this part of your life should be directed.
Just watching,
Just observing,
No need to interrupt or do anything.
Just paying attention to what's happening in front of you.
And now remembering that your inner critic is just one of your inner parts.
And remembering that she is not you.
And remembering that that director's chair really does belong to you.
So remembering all of these things,
I want you to say in your loudest,
Best director's voice,
Stop action and watch as the acting and the movie making stops.
Watch as all the actors and film crew turn to you to see what you want them to do next.
And now give them all a break.
Say,
Take ten or something like that and watch as they all move away from you now to other parts of the set.
And just take a few steps closer to your inner critic who is still sitting in your director's chair.
Say hello.
Get a closer look.
Introduce yourself.
Smile.
Everything is really okay.
You are in control of this journey you are on.
Shake her hand if you feel like it.
And now ask your inner critic why she is sitting in your director's chair and listen.
Just listen to what she says.
And now if you want to,
Go ahead and ask your inner critic what she is saying.
And now if you want to,
Go ahead and ask your inner critic what she is afraid might happen if she were to get out of that director's seat and leave the set.
What is she most afraid of?
And listen,
Really listen to her answer.
Don't try to argue with her or respond to anything she says.
Your job right now is simply to listen.
And now if you want to,
Go ahead and ask your inner critic why she is sitting in your director's chair and listen.
And now if you want to,
Go ahead and ask your inner critic why she is sitting in your director's seat and leave the set.
And now if you want to,
Go ahead and ask your inner critic why she is sitting in your director's seat and leave the set.
And now if you want to,
Go ahead and ask your inner critic why she is sitting in your director's seat and leave the set.
And now if you want to,
Go ahead and ask your inner critic why she is sitting in your director's seat and leave the set.
And now as she is finishing what she is saying,
Take a moment to thank your inner critic for speaking with you today.
That's all.
Simply thank her for being honest with you.
And then if you feel like you want to do this,
Tell her that you are the real director of this movie and that it's time now for you to sit in the director's chair again.
And just watch as your inner critic gets up from the chair and leaves the set or moves over to the sidelines.
Notice how good it feels to sit in the director's chair again.
And as the cast and crew come back to the set and the filming begins again,
Notice how you feel now that your inner critic is gone.
Notice what it's like in your body and in your mind,
What it feels like to really be the one in charge of this film that is your life.
And just get a sense of being the director of your own life again and enjoy how that feels for a little while.
And it's almost time to leave.
So take your time.
Notice that everyone on the set is getting ready to leave for the day.
Filming's over for now.
So just say goodbye to everyone on the set who's helping to make your movie.
Saying goodbye.
Finding your way back to your beautiful car.
Out in the parking lot.
Getting in.
Starting the engine.
Taking the wheel.
Waving goodbye to the attendant at the gate.
Feeling how good it feels to be the director of your own movie again.
How good it feels to be driving your own car strong and in control.
Driving back through the streets that brought you to the movie studio.
Past the palm trees and the beautiful homes with the beautiful gardens.
Driving with confidence and ease.
Driving your way back and back to the time and the place that you are in right now.
Following the sound of my voice back to this time and this place.
Noticing your breathing again.
Don't try to change your breathing.
Just noticing it.
Noticing the air as it comes into your body through your nose and then leaves.
Inhaling and exhaling more consciously now.
Following the sound of my voice back to this time and this place.
Becoming aware of your legs.
Maybe wiggling your toes a little bit.
Maybe even shaking out your legs,
Shaking out your fingers.
Rolling your neck back and forth.
Becoming more fully present to this time and this place.
When you're ready,
Opening your eyes,
Looking around you.
And breathing a breath of gratitude for this magical inner journey.
And for your inner critic who does have gifts to give.
Thank you for joining us for this magical inner journey.
And may there be many,
Many more magical inner journeys for you to share with your soul.
