Hi,
I'm Giovanna Mae Reiss and I'm so happy you're taking time to be still with me today.
Social support is one of the cornerstones of a fulfilling life,
Yet many of us carry beliefs that we lack this essential connection.
I've been there myself in the past.
Today,
I'd like to guide you through a practice to explore those beliefs,
See if they truly reflect your reality,
And gently begin to shift toward a more empowering perspective.
And so it begins.
First,
Find a comfortable position,
Either seated or lying down.
Let your body settle into the surface beneath you,
Feeling supported and grounded.
Allow your hands to rest gently at your sides or in your lap.
Close your eyes or soften your gaze.
Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out slowly through your mouth.
Take another deep inhale,
Feeling your belly rise.
And exhale,
Releasing any tension in your body.
One last deep breath in.
And as you exhale,
Feel yourself becoming more present in this moment.
Now,
Bring to mind the idea of social support.
Notice what thoughts or feelings arise when you consider the support available to you in your life.
Do you feel surrounded by it,
Or does it feel distant and hard to reach?
Without judgment,
Just observe whatever comes up.
Let's take a moment to reflect on a specific belief you might hold about social support.
Maybe it's a thought like,
No one is there for me,
Or I can't count on others when I need help.
Acknowledge this belief,
Whatever it is for you,
And notice where you feel it in your body.
Does it create a tightness in your chest,
A heaviness in your shoulders,
Or a tension in your jaw?
Simply observe.
Now,
Imagine holding this belief in your hands as if it were a physical object.
Notice its shape,
Size,
And weight.
Is it heavy or light,
Smooth or rough?
As you hold it,
Reflect,
Where did this belief come from?
Was it shaped by a past experience,
Or is it something you've always felt?
Let's gently test this belief.
Think back to the last week or two.
Can you recall even small moments when someone offered support?
Maybe a friend sent you a kind text,
A coworker helped with a task,
Or a family member asked how you were doing.
Picture each moment clearly,
No matter how small it may seem.
Now imagine placing each of these supportive moments into the same hands holding your belief.
Let them settle alongside it,
And notice if their presence shifts the weight or changes how the belief feels.
Ask yourself,
Is this belief as solid as it seemed before?
Is it possible you've overlooked the support that's already there?
If it feels right,
Begin to visualize the belief softening,
Becoming lighter.
See it dissolving with each breath,
Making space for a new perspective.
As this space opens,
Invite a fresh belief to emerge.
Maybe it's something like,
I am more supported than I realized,
Or I am open to noticing the support around me.
Let this new belief take root in the space where the old one was,
Growing stronger with each inhale.
Feel the weight of your body supported by the surface beneath you.
Imagine this support extending to the people in your life who care for you,
In big ways or small.
Breathe in their presence and their kindness.
Take a moment to reflect on how you feel now.
Has anything shifted in your body or mind?
Whatever you feel or don't feel is okay.
This is a process and you're taking an important step.
Let's end with three deep breaths together.
Inhale deeply,
Drawing in a sense of connection.
Exhale,
Releasing old doubts.
Inhale,
Welcoming support.
Exhale,
Letting go of tension.
One more time,
Breathe in openness and exhale,
Grounding yourself in this truth.
When you're ready,
Gently bring your awareness back to the room.
Wiggle your fingers and toes and open your eyes.
Take this new perspective with you as you move through your day and remember,
You are worthy of support and it is closer than you may think.
