Reaching Your Authentic Self Meditation

Welcome, I'm Cindy Foster, and today we focus on reaching your authentic-self. So what exactly do we mean by 'authentic-self'. To me, it is moving beyond the conditioning or programming of our ego, thoughts, images, feelings about who we are and what we can and cannot do.

Moving beyond conditioned beliefs, messages perhaps projected onto us from other people (and probably very caring individuals thinking they were being helpful by labeling us as too shy, or too independent, etc.), so you can't become whatever you truly want because of the labeling that we've received during youth and through developing relationships. We internalize this information as it is stored in our subconscious, and we begin to believe that is who we are, with all of the limitations.

Today, we're going to move beyond those limitations or perhaps leave them to the side for a while. Finding a healthier balance or imagining a different you, allowing your true self to come forward.

Transcript

Welcome.

I'm Cindy Foster and today we focus on reaching your authentic self.

So what do we exactly mean by authentic self?

To me it's moving beyond the conditioned or programming of our ego,

The thoughts,

Images,

Feelings about who we are and what we can and cannot do.

Moving beyond conditioned beliefs,

Messages,

Perhaps projected onto us from other people and probably very caring individuals thinking they were being helpful by labeling us as too shy or too independent or good in this subject or area or bad in this area.

So you can't become an artist or a musician or teacher or doctor or therapist or whatever because of the labeling that we received younger and even through developing relationships.

We might have been labeled as a troublemaker.

You'll end up in jail because of the way you are.

And so we can internalize this.

We begin to internalize this information as it is stored in our subconscious and we begin to that's who we are with all of the limitations.

Now we do get positive reinforcement as well and we can allow that in or perhaps we have buried that someplace within our subconscious because we weren't allowed to express maybe creativity or our ideas.

And that's what we call the shadow self which we will be talking about at a later date.

Those things that just buried and repressed because they weren't allowed to be shown in certain environments,

Certain systems,

Work,

Family systems,

Whatever it might be.

So again we have limitations of we can and cannot do maybe based on our personality and the things others have determined about us based on their small or limited views or experiences or maybe their own stress reactions that they have never dealt with or resolved and those get projected onto us.

Different styles of parenting,

Communication,

Family issues,

Whatever it might be.

And so what happens?

We adapt.

We adapt.

And we adapt with these ideas and limitations to get our needs met and to fit in to our group,

Whatever that is.

So this is all survival.

Ways that we've learned to survive that can keep us from our true self,

Our authentic self.

So today we're going to move beyond those limitations and ideas or perhaps leave them to the side for a while.

Finding a healthier balance or imagining a different you or how you perhaps always felt you were but never allowed that to come into existence.

Maybe you've had glimpses of your true self outside of the responsibilities,

Outside of the masks,

Outside of how you may perceive yourself or the roles that we take on and who and what we are actually feeling or sensing we are that we wish to have come forward.

So we can explore today and allow a space for reaching and maintaining our authentic self underneath all the noise and chatter,

Underneath others' expectations of us or our own self expectations.

So now we can begin to stop that adaptive or survival or repressive or even destructive habitual thoughts and feelings that attach to those thoughts and then the behavior that leads us to doing or being the same way or keep us stuck or anxious or on those addictive or habitual behaviors and paths that can harm us and harm those we love.

You can change these patterns and choices at any time.

We can reprogram our conscious and subconscious mind and change behaviors.

So let's begin.

Beginning our practice now.

So settling in as we begin a conscious neuro-mindfulness practice.

Moving out of the mind-body's reactivity and opening up space to move beyond all that mind noise and thinking and overthinking and limitations and stress that we place on our mind,

Body and heart.

So settling in as you begin noticing your whole self here as you yourself this time just to be and breathe.

No expectations in this moment.

Just you breathing and being.

And we can notice what is occurring in your mind,

Body,

Heart right now.

Any tightness you notice within the body,

Tight muscles and where you might be carrying tightness and feelings,

Emotions in the body.

We all do it.

The body carries the load here and can hold on.

So noticing if you do in this moment,

Maybe not,

And that either way is okay.

There's no right or wrong here.

Maybe you notice some swirling energy as your mind might be holding on to the information that you just received and wants to analyze it.

And that's okay.

So just noticing that.

Or maybe swirling energy from what you were doing before you were allowing yourself to take this time to just be.

We can hold on to that last interaction with someone or something that's been bothering us or we're worried about.

So just noticing where that energy is within you without judging you or judging the experience right now or expecting any outcomes.

Recognize any harsh expectations.

That's the ego again coming in.

The ego encapsulated way of viewing ourselves.

Thinking I can do this or I can't do it.

So notice that.

And it's okay.

As you come to your breathing now,

Notice if you're holding your breath or breathing rapidly.

And now taking in a couple deep slow breaths in,

Breathing in,

Cleansing breaths in.

Holding the breath for a moment and then out through your mouth as you let go.

Letting go of the breath.

And now gently breathing with whatever you notice or not notice.

And breathing gently with whatever you find within you.

And remembering that you're not the thoughts.

Thoughts are simply thoughts.

You're not the feelings.

They are just feelings.

And you're not any physical symptom or illness that we might be labeling ourselves here in limitations.

And you're not any roles that you take on in your life.

And you're not the experiences you go through or the words or the behaviors that others might project onto you because of their own baggage and unresolved issues.

And just breathing now as you normally would.

Not controlling you or your breath in any way.

As you breathe out tension and breathing in space.

And you don't even have to know what all that tension is that might have accumulated within you.

Just allowing the breath as a way to move it on out as it will right now.

No pressure.

Just allowing this possibility as you breathe in that newness,

That freshness,

That space within you opening up.

That flow of life as a breath moves in and moves out.

Muscles softening.

Imagining feeling those muscles.

Just softening.

Softening more and more and letting go.

Gently as they will right now.

No pressure here either.

Just allowing.

You are safe here now.

Just breathing and being within this spacious openness that you're cultivating here.

Safe as the chair,

The couch,

The floor,

Wherever you're on,

That foundation is holding you as you just breathe and be.

And again you can notice when the mind wants to pull you away.

Thinking thoughts.

Analyzing thoughts.

Any feelings that might show up.

And again where do I feel these energies within me without reacting to them as being wrong.

They're just there for whatever reason.

There's nothing wrong with you.

These are just energies coming up because they've been there a long time.

We attach.

We all do.

We're human.

So just noticing when they come.

And allowing yourself to choose to let go in this moment of any mind noise and chatter as you gently come back.

Muscles softening and loosening more and more.

Breathing in.

Spaciousness.

And breathing out.

Any tightness.

Softly,

Gently as we move beyond all that mind and body noise.

Just by breathing and being here with yourself.

In a more loving and caring way of observing.

All so gentle.

Deeper and deeper.

Flowing through you now.

And becoming more and more aware.

Place deep inside that exists within all of us.

That we disconnect from because of all the earthly life here and what goes along with it.

Discovering or reconnecting or imagining that place of peace within.

That place where you are just yourself.

Place where you are most yourself.

Without even defining what that is.

But just that gentle,

Calming,

Accepting feeling and sense within.

Deeper and deeper within your center,

Your core of your being.

Maybe you've felt this or glimpses of it before.

Or maybe it's new to you.

Whatever it is,

It's okay.

Or maybe just imagining what that would be like.

Having that deeper connection within yourself.

Where you feel most yourself.

To relax and feel contented.

That you are enough.

We're much,

Much more than the thoughts and feelings and the body.

We're much,

Much more as you sense a deeper place within.

Going beyond thoughts and feelings and physical symptoms.

Feeling spaciousness within us and around us.

And sense a deeper place of pure loving awareness and pure love and potential.

It resides within each of us.

And being able to reclaim or touch this place within.

Or imagining what it would be like.

In the spiritual nature within.

Our authentic,

True self.

And feelings and life here.

Connecting in a deeper place where your authentic self is.

And you can identify your true values and needs and talents.

Your inner wisdom.

Guiding you through life challenges.

That spiritual connection of all that is good and wise and kind.

Guiding you with more equanimity and joy.

Acceptance.

And fulfillment of just being you and knowing that that is enough.

As you breathe in your timeless self.

And breathing out to infinity.

As you just be.

This place where you're loved and safe.

Connected.

At a higher frequency.

Allowing and becoming your timeless self.

And feel that light and feel that love.

And feel that connection to all that is good and wise and kind.

And feel that acceptance.

And connecting and listening to your authentic,

Wise,

Spiritual essence.

Feel that light of awareness in this place.

And feel your own love.

And the love of ancestors.

And all the spiritual love and understanding that's here for you now in this moment.

And feel this light of awareness.

Your true self.

Timeless self flowing through your entire being.

Vastness and continuum.

Yet connected.

Here on earth and everywhere.

As you breathe in from spaciousness.

And breathing out spaciousness.

And omnipresent and at peace.

Encompassing all of existence without being confined in any way.

No restrictions.

Just you.

In your wholeness.

And feeling appreciation to be in this physical form.

And the teachings of life.

As you feel your wholeness within your authentic self.

Perfect as you are.

In your evolving,

Living,

Being.

Breathing in from eternity.

And breathing out eternity.

Your timeless self as one with yourself and all present here,

Center,

Within your own being.

As you feel a deeper sense of being.

At peace and acceptance.

Contentment with yourself.

In connection.

Deeper and deeper within.

As you breathe with the entirety of your whole self.

Here alive.

Awake in your own understanding.

And now feeling fully grounded.

Fully present and centered.

Within yourself and in this moment.

With greater wisdom,

Gratitude,

Peace.

Feeling your own self-acceptance and compassion.

As you continue on your life path.

And knowing you can reach this place again and again and again.

And you can continue to stay here if you wish.

Otherwise,

Beginning to feel your whole self here.

And feeling your spirit in every place of your being.

In every place of your body.

Connected here in earth energy.

As you continue to bring that awareness and opportunity to reach your authentic self throughout the day.

As you breathe in and breathe out.

Feeling that deeper connection.

Allowing moments to connect in this way.

Even through daily routines.

You can connect again and again and again.

As you breathe in.

Coming back to you.

And recognizing this deeper place within you.

When roles,

When responsibilities,

Life distractions,

Pull us away.

We can return.