Tender Revolution Ep. 1: An Open Heart For The Revolution

Welcome to the Tender Revolution.

I'm Catherine Liggett.

In this first episode of the Tender Revolution,

I want to lay out why we're here.

What is the Tender Revolution and why I created this podcast?

You don't need me to tell you what's happening in our world right now.

As I record this,

It's October 2020 and systems are collapsing everywhere we look.

Some of these changes are clearly positive,

Such as many white communities waking up to systemic racism,

But the majority are downright tragic.

Most of us haven't even begun to see the first glimmers of the silver lining that many spiritual teachers promise us lie on the other side of this global wildfire.

Most of us are anxious and afraid,

With our nervous systems chronically activated to defend us against a threat that no one can see or even understand.

And for those of us who live with our insides on our outsides,

The feelers and healers among us,

The experience of these times is intense beyond words.

If you're listening to this podcast,

Chances are you identify like this.

Most of us empathic and highly sensitive folks not only feel everything,

But we also have a trauma history,

Making our nervous systems extra,

Extra reactive in times of an uncertain future.

Every single sensitive person I know is struggling right now with many layers of anxiety,

And that includes me.

I believe that having anxiety right now means that you are alive,

That you see and that you feel truly and deeply.

There is nothing wrong with you.

And I also know that it is at times excruciatingly uncomfortable.

I'm not here today though to give you advice on how to overcome this anxiety.

What I'm here to do is to be a guide going through the fire alongside you,

Who can in the midst of great struggle,

Help you learn in time to transform this fear into love.

Not perfectly and not all the time.

The revolution looks like it's happening out there.

But really,

The most important part is happening within you.

Though the shift seems agonizingly gradual,

And we still have far to go.

We see places where love is beginning to overtake fear in the midst of planetary suffering.

In order for outside systems to change permanently,

The new structures must be present in the hearts and minds of humanity first.

And this is why the most important part of the revolution,

The part of our future that's really,

Really matters,

Is happening inside you.

And it begins with your relationship to yourself.

The invitation of the tender revolution is this.

In the midst of great difficulty,

Stay close to yourself and keep riding the waves of feeling.

Keep allowing yourself to be transformed by this fire again and again,

In ever deepening layers.

Keep showing up with kindness,

No matter what,

Especially to yourself.

This is the tender revolution.

And this,

I believe,

Is what will truly change the world.

That's why I created this podcast to help you change the world by transforming from within.

Each episode will have two parts,

An introduction and an exploration.

In the introduction,

I'll be sharing reflections I've had on the topic at hand.

And then in the second part,

I'll guide you in a meditative exploration or journey where you'll really get to experience how the topic lives in your own heart and body.

My hope is that you'll leave each episode more aware,

More connected to yourself,

And with renewed courage to really show up in these revolutionary times as the beautifully sensitive and powerful being that you are.

So now,

When you're ready,

Let's dive into our exploration for today.

I invite you to find a place where you can have privacy for about 10 minutes here and get really,

Really comfortable.

That might mean sitting up somewhere or lying down.

So take a moment now to make any final adjustments to your body so that you can be even more comfortable.

And when you arrive here,

Close your eyes and turn your inward gaze to notice what's in your body right now.

What sensations are pulling your attention toward them.

Maybe noticing the inhale and the exhale.

Getting curious about where you feel that movement most in your body.

Using sensation now to exquisitely draw your attention to your internal space.

Feeling yourself to be enveloped by stillness.

Feeling the stillness as if it's a substance around you.

And noticing the space between your inhale and exhale is filled with that substance.

And I invite you now to bring both hands to your heart.

To your center.

You might notice that your awareness is in your mind.

You're thinking about this instead of feeling.

And if that's the case with great compassion,

Imagine the beautiful light of your awareness in your head drawing down into your chest.

And really now experiencing sensation.

Feeling the world from this place in your chest.

Breathing in and out.

And I'd like you now to allow this question to float in your body and in your mind.

And that is,

What am I trying not to feel right now?

What am I trying not to feel right now?

Allowing whatever arises and breathing.

Inquiring now.

Where is this feeling in my body that I was trying not to feel?

Where does it live?

Really sending softening breath to that place.

I invite you now to ask this feeling to be as big as it needs to be.

Breathing.

Expanding now into your body,

Your whole body.

Allowing.

Breathing.

Asking yourself,

What would it feel like if I allowed this just 10% more to take up just that much more space?

Breathing and softening.

Feeling whatever that feeling is as an energy or a light expanding.

Releasing.

And I'd like you to say to it these things.

I am here with you.

I am listening.

I care about you.

Building your heart as you say these words of love to yourself.

This loving holding that you're giving yourself now.

This is where the revolution lives.

This is it.

Because when we hold ourselves through whatever arises,

We can get through anything.

We learn to move with the fear,

With the pain.

We learn that we can contain it.

That we're bigger than just this feeling.

This is freedom.

And this is power.

Right here.

It's also a practice.

So if this feels disconnected right now,

That's 100% okay.

Just keep showing up and keep holding yourself.

So whenever this feels complete enough for right now,

Knowing that this is definitely a practice,

It's a new way of being.

Whenever you're ready,

You can open your eyes and return.

Taking any movements that might feel natural and refreshing.

I thank you all so very much for your commitment to your inner revolution of kindness toward yourself.

And of the power to hold whatever arises within you and move forward with authenticity and strength,

You can do it.

And I will see you next time.