We live in a society that is full of judgments.
Judgments about where we live,
Where we work,
Whom we choose to spend our life with.
And for us,
As women,
The big one,
The one that seems to affect most women,
Is judgment about how we look.
In a society that values the young,
Feminine body,
How do we retain our self-love as our body changes and ages?
How do we continue to feel we have a place in the world when perhaps we're surrounded by younger,
Fitter bodies?
The physical body is just one aspect of our being,
But at times it can be hard to appreciate that,
And it's so easy to fall into being critical of our bodies.
At all ages,
Cultivating self-love is essential for mental well-being,
But especially as we age,
It becomes key to us living in our power,
Enjoying our life,
And sharing the best version of ourselves with the world.
This meditation is aimed to bring that self-love to your body and to your whole being.
Come into a comfortable position,
Sitting on a cushion or a chair.
Keep the spine elongated,
Reminding the body of its power and strength.
Closing the eyes or having a soft focus at your nose,
Turn your attention now to your breath.
Breathing in and out through your nose.
Allow yourself to luxuriate in the breath.
There is nothing else you need to do right now.
Just breathe in and out through the nostrils.
Take a moment to consider the body you're currently inhabiting.
Yes,
Perhaps you have health conditions,
Maybe you have injuries or disabilities,
But you are here right now,
Enjoying sitting with the breath in the body,
Feeling the inhale and exhale in the nostrils.
What a gift to be able to sit and breathe,
To be able to just be here right now.
Now,
As you focus for a little longer on the physical body,
Take a few moments to think about all the things you can do in the body,
Whether it's running,
Dancing,
Singing,
Smiling,
Or holding a loved one's hand.
Bring a smile to your face as you think about how your physical body supports you throughout the day.
Bring gratitude to the intelligence that is the human body,
The lungs that breathe without your input,
The heart that beats whether you notice or not.
Such an incredible design,
A real miracle of creation.
That is what we all are.
That is what we all are.
A miracle of creation.
Take a moment here to acknowledge that miracle.
The human body comes in all shapes and sizes and with different abilities.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we were able to embrace the differences,
The uniqueness of each and every one of us?
You can choose to be defined by how you look,
Or you can choose to be defined by how you show up in the world,
How you can make others feel comfortable by your smile,
Your gestures,
Your energy,
How you can light up the room and bring joy to everyone you meet.
That powerful sparkle in your eye when you're fully present and aware.
So how do you want to be defined?
Coming back to the breath now.
Slowly inhale and slowly exhale.
Coming back to that gratitude for the breath and the body which enables you to live,
To express,
To love and be loved.
Next time you feel critical towards your body and self-image,
Come back to this meditation.
Every time you bring self-love and awareness to yourself,
You help to reprogram your mind.
So step out today with confidence in your body,
Confidence in yourself.
You are made of stardust.
What could be more beautiful?
