In this meditation,
We're going to be connecting to a nurturing figure and going through all of the different developmental stages of childhood and imagining that this nurturing figure were there to provide support,
Guidance,
Compassion,
Love.
So I'll invite you now to get settled,
Find a comfortable position.
You have to be an actual person.
It can be a spiritual or religious figure.
It could even be a pet or an animal.
Someone who is warm,
Caring,
Compassionate,
And kind and that you would feel supported by.
Now taking a moment to connect to your nurturing resource,
Getting a good visual in your mind of what they look like,
Imagining that they're there with you now,
Noticing what it feels like to be in their presence.
If this is feeling positive,
Go ahead and continue.
If not,
You may need to search a little more to find the right nurturing resource.
Now imagining that you're an infant in the womb of the resource figure that you chose.
Gender here is not really important.
It's more a sense of being held,
Supported,
Carried,
Nurtured,
And taken care of as a developing fetus going through the stages of development in the womb,
Being supported by this nurturing figure who's carrying you as you develop until the point that you're ready to be born.
So imagine what it's like to be held with this care,
This nurturing,
Body is being nurtured,
Emotions are being nurtured.
Now imagining that it's the day of your birth and you are born to this nurturing figure.
Imagine as they hold you,
Gaze into your eyes,
Feed you,
Clothe you,
Put you to bed.
Just imagining what it's like to be supported and cared for in this kind of way with joy,
With compassion.
When you're noticing positive emotions come up,
You can slowly tap left to right on your knees just for about 10 seconds or so and take in that positive feeling that will help reinforce and enhance it.
So imagining that you're an infant,
Having your needs met,
Being able to trust that your needs are being met by this nurturing support.
Needs for food and shelter,
Needs for love and attention,
Needs to be taught,
Even redirected.
How would they be supporting you as an infant from a toddler age of two years or so?
Walking yourself through that,
Noticing any positive feelings that come up.
If there are positive feelings,
Then tapping those in.
And now continuing to toddlerhood around ages two to four or five.
This is the stage of autonomy versus shame and doubt.
This is where toddlers gain a sense of independence,
Self-control,
When they're supported in the way that they need to be when the environment is meeting their needs.
Imagine now this nurturing figure is supporting you as a toddler in being independent,
Learning words and sentences,
Learning to dress yourself,
Toilet training,
Supporting and encouraging your independence and autonomy.
What would that look like?
How would they handle things if you needed to be redirected?
How would they support you in a way that builds you up rather than shames you?
If there's any positive feelings that you notice,
Tapping those in.
Now continuing to preschool age around ages four,
Three,
Three and a half,
Four.
Getting a little older now.
Moving your way towards school age.
In this stage,
The goal is kind of carried forward from the previous stage,
Which is about initiative.
Being able to assert power or control over the environment.
Meaning feeling a sense of I can do it.
Of feeling safe and secure.
Being able to take initiative in play and likes and dislikes and activities.
Visualizing how your nurturing resource would support you in playing with other kids and your preferences around things that you liked,
Things that you don't like.
Allowing you to have your own wants,
Needs,
Preferences,
Identities.
Allowing you to be you.
And again,
Tapping in any positive emotions.
Now your school age,
Meaning five through 11 years old.
The goal of this stage of development is to develop a healthy sense of industry versus inferiority.
So a sense of competence and social skills or academic skills.
Imagining how this nurturing support would help you develop a sense that you are good just the way you are,
Even if you're not the best at academics or even social skills.
That you are okay the way that you are.
Supporting your efforts.
Helping you find what you are interested in,
What you do,
Feel passionate about or excel in.
And then nurturing and encouraging those things.
Helping you develop a healthy sense of your capability.
Tapping in any positive emotions that come when you bring that to mind.
And then we'll move on to adolescence.
So ages 12,
13,
14.
This is the stage of identity versus role confusion.
Developing a healthy sense of self,
Healthy sense of your role,
Particularly in this stage,
Just being in the role of a child still.
Not having to take care of other people.
Not having to make adult decisions.
Imagining how the nurturing support would allow you to still grow and develop without putting too much responsibility or expectation.
Helping you develop a healthy sense of identity and who you are.
With all the emotions that you feel as an adolescence,
Imagining how they support you in working through these emotions,
Through all the changes that are happening within.
And tapping in any positive emotions that come up when you bring this to mind.
And finally,
Moving on to high school.
We're continuing to develop our identity,
Our place in the world as we prepare to move into the adult world.
Dating may or may not become important in this stage.
Friends may or may not become more important.
Interests may or may not begin to develop in new ways.
Imagining how the nurturing figure would support you in navigating that path through high school with maybe more complicated decisions that you're making that may impact your future.
How are they setting boundaries?
How are they supporting and encouraging you?
Tapping in any positive emotions as you visualize that.
And finally,
Imagining now it's the end of high school.
Perhaps you're graduating or you've gotten a GED or maybe you're just simply moving on to other things.
But imagining how your nurturing resource would be supporting you into this transition into adulthood.
Encouraging who you've developed into.
Encouraging you to be you.
And tapping in any positive feelings that come up.
Now just taking a moment to really connect to your nurturing figure once more.
Taking in all the compassion and support and caring.
Noticing what it feels like to connect to that.
What does it feel like in your body?
Soaking that in for a few more moments.
If you'd like,
You can thank your nurturing figure for being there to support you.
Knowing that you can return any time you need to.
And when you're ready,
Go ahead and open your eyes.
Begin to reorient yourself to your surroundings.
And we'll go ahead and close the meditation.
