Welcome to this meditation on confidence.
This practice is designed to help you connect with your inner strength to steady your mind and to remind you of your natural capability.
We'll begin with the breath and we'll invite in memory of confidence and anchor that feeling in the body so you can carry it with you into your day.
Begin by finding a comfortable seated position.
Sit upright,
Get relaxed with your feet planted on the ground,
If you're in a chair or perhaps feeling your sit bones supported,
If you're on a cushion,
Let your hands rest easily on your lap or your knees,
If it feels safe and comfortable,
Perhaps you could gently close your eyes and if not,
It's okay.
You can simply shift our gaze downwards and take a soft focus on a spot in front of you.
Now take a long,
Slow breath in through the nose and release it out the mouth.
Again,
Breathing in fully and exhaling completely.
One more time,
Deep breath in and full breath out.
Now allow your breathing to settle into its natural rhythm in and out through the nose.
Perhaps we can begin to bring attention to the breath.
Notice where it feels most clear and natural,
Perhaps at the tip of the nose and the rise and fall of the chest or in the gentle expansion of the belly,
Choose one of these points to reset your focus.
Whenever your mind wanders,
Which it naturally will,
Kindly bring it back to the breath.
Each return is part of the practice and if the mind has wandered,
Allow the mind to wander.
Let us invite into the mind a memory,
A memory of confidence.
Doesn't need to be dramatic,
It could be something simple,
A time you finished a task,
Time you spoke clearly,
A time when you kept going,
When it mattered.
Picture yourself in that moment.
Notice your posture,
Perhaps it's upright,
Steady,
Strong.
Notice your breath,
Perhaps it's calm and even.
Notice the expression on your face,
Perhaps composed and assured.
As you breathe,
Allow the feelings of that memory to grow stronger.
What does confidence feel like in your body?
Perhaps it's a sense of steadiness in the chest,
A groundedness in the feet,
A sense of ease in the face.
Stay with this feeling,
Breathing it in,
Letting it expand through your body.
Breathing it in,
Letting it expand through your body.
Breathing it all in,
Letting it all expand throughout your body.
Remembering confidence is not about being perfect.
Confidence is about being steady,
Capable,
And willing to act.
Now,
Perhaps we can imagine a challenge you may face in your life.
Something ahead of you that requires focus or energy.
See yourself in your mind,
Stepping into it with the same confidence you just recalled,
The same posture,
The same breath,
The same calmness.
Take a slow,
Full breath in,
And as you exhale,
Release doubt.
Breathing in,
Feel capable.
Breathing out,
Feel steady.
Breathing in,
I am present.
Breathing out,
I am capable.
Repeat this quietly to yourself with each cycle of breath,
Letting the words sink in.
Breathing in,
Feel capable.
Breathing out,
Feel steady.
Breathing in,
I am present.
Breathing out,
I am capable.
Breathing in,
Feel capable.
Breathing out,
Feel steady.
Breathing in,
I am present.
Breathing out,
I am capable.
Letting the words sink in,
Sink in deep into your soul,
Deep into your bones.
Now allow the mantra visualization to dissolve.
Come back to the simple rhythm of breathing,
Inhaling and exhaling,
Following your breath here and now.
Notice the sensations of your body sitting.
Notice the contact,
Your feet with the floor or your sit bones with the cushion.
Notice the sensation in your hands resting naturally.
Notice the sensation of your body supported fully by the ground beneath you.
Take a deeper breath in through the nose and a steady breath out through the mouth.
And if it feels good,
Add a gentle movement,
Wiggle your fingers and toes.
Perhaps roll your shoulders.
Take a long stretch overhead.
And when you're ready,
Slowly open your eyes.
Bring with you this sense of quiet confidence,
Grounded,
Capable,
And ready to step forward into your day.
This meditation can serve as a reminder.
Confidence doesn't need to be forced.
It can be cultivated by steadying the breath,
Recalling your strengths,
And bringing awareness to the present moment.
You can return to this practice anytime you want to reconnect with your inner strength.
Thank you for tuning in.
Peace and be well.
