Hello and welcome to this practice for people pleasing.
My name is Jasmine and this is something that I've really had to look at integrating and understanding within my own behavior and I found practices like this to be really deeply helpful for showing this part of me some compassion.
So it might be interesting to know that the part of us that people pleases really is doing so out of an attempt for deep connection.
So that means when you fall into a pattern of people pleasing,
There's an experience you're having with the world around you that makes you feel at risk of disconnection,
Which if you look at our timeline of evolution,
Really our ability to connect allowed us to survive and as women especially it was integral to our chance of survival.
And so perhaps even understanding that allows you to feel a little bit more empathy for the part of you that falls into patterns of people pleasing.
Let's come to settle and let's find a place where you can either sit comfortably or if you wish lie down.
And we'll start by opening your eyes wide and we'll begin by connecting to the space,
The environment around us.
So I invite you to look up into the corners and the edges of the space around you.
Notice your distance from any windows,
Any doors,
The distance of the ceiling above you,
Even the space behind you,
Really taking in where you are.
And then when your animal brain starts to register where you are,
Acknowledging that you are in a known and safe space,
You can either soften and lower your gaze or close down your eyes.
Begin to connect with the parts of you that make contact with the floor and see if you can rest into that support.
Let's take a gentle yet full breath in and a complete breath out.
And now bringing to mind that part of you that people pleases.
And perhaps there was a particular event recently,
You maybe said yes when you meant no,
Agreed to something that you didn't want to do.
Maybe you felt like a boundary was overstepped and you perhaps felt like you couldn't say.
And if you'd like,
You can take a hand or both hands over your heart,
Lightly resting there.
And as if reassuring or nourishing a friend,
Let's show this part of us compassion,
Understanding for its need for connection.
Perhaps sending this part a message that of course,
Of course you want to connect.
Of course you want to be part of a network,
A team,
A community.
How could you not?
So let's now drop into a place of internal connection,
Perhaps releasing your hand,
Relaxing your arms down and noticing if your body has the capacity to unclench,
Release and soften.
And in your mind's eye,
I invite you to bring to mind the person who you feel closest to in this moment.
And that might be a friend,
A family member,
It can even be a pet,
Bringing them to mind.
And you might see this person in front of you.
You might imagine their energy,
You might sense them.
And as you do,
Can you imagine their arms wrapping around you or their energy coming towards you and embracing you in a warm cloak,
Feeling that embrace,
That warmth.
And just as if you would rest into that embrace,
Feel your shoulders soften,
Feel your system respond to that contact.
And as you breathe slowly into this connection,
You might witness what comes up for you physically,
Mentally or emotionally.
And now greeting this energy,
This person,
This pet with either a nod or a smile,
Acknowledging them as they leave.
And now bringing to mind someone that's in your wider circle,
So perhaps a distant friend.
Maybe you've not seen them in a while,
But there's someone that you could pick up the phone and call.
And as you invite this person,
This energy into your space,
We will connect with it in some way.
So would that look like holding hands?
Would that look like a smile,
Eye contact?
Maybe it would be a palm on the back of your shoulder blades.
Perhaps you feel them sitting next to you,
Right by your side.
And take a few moments here just to feel that connection.
Feel that partnership between the two of you.
Breathing slowly and noticing what comes up.
And now as this person prepares to leave,
Again,
Greeting them with a smile,
Maybe a wave as they leave the space.
And now in your mind's eye,
Begin to acknowledge your greater connection to the wider human race.
You being a part of this community that lives on this whole planet,
All of the different countries,
Continents,
Despite the different languages spoken,
There is this connection of being human.
You belong here in this human community.
Now allowing your awareness to expand wider than that and noticing how you're connected to the wider animal kingdom.
Every mammal,
Every reptilian,
Every insect,
The mycelium that live under the ground,
The trees,
The flowers,
The birds.
You all share one integral piece of commonality.
You are alive.
And so feel into your place within this wider community.
And then bringing your hands gently back to your heart,
And as you rest over this space,
See if you can imagine or feel your heart beating.
And with each pulse of the heart,
Imagining as the nutrients are sent around the body to every muscle,
Organ,
Cell.
And spend a few moments here connecting with the most important relationship of all.
The one that you have with yourself.
And I invite you to stay here,
Really resting into that connection for as long as you might want or need.
And whenever you are ready,
You can welcome back in your day by opening your eyes.
My name is Jasmine,
And I thank you so much for being here with me today.
