From Self-Doubt To Self-Trust

“The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.” – Michel de Montaigne

This meditation is about looking at body, cognition, and energy shifts that happen when we feel a sense of self-doubt versus a sense of self-trust. By cultivating this self-awareness, we can create a foundation from which to grow and change.

Transcript

My name is Jen. Self-awareness enables growth. It allows us to develop a growth mindset and truly focus on what we want to change as individuals in the world. It is not uncommon to feel self-doubt and we shouldn't beat ourselves up for it. In fact, Self-doubt is a very common phenomenon and can show up in many ways. It can show up as a lack of belief, A lack of thinking that we have the right to do certain things or act in certain ways. But it can also show up as imposter syndrome, Where we've achieved a certain level of success and yet we always feel as though someone is going to find us out. So today's meditation is all about focusing on this sense of self-doubt. We're going to explore it with awareness, Bodily, Cognitively, And energetically. So let's begin with a meditation by sitting tall either in a chair or cross-legged on the ground. You want to have a nice tall spine so if you want to sit against the wall that is perfectly great. Sitting in a chair with your feet flat on the ground or sitting cross-legged with your chin tucked slightly, Neck long. Begin to focus on the breath without trying to change anything or alter anything. Just noticing the natural cadence of the inhale and exhale, The subtle way the body expands and contracts. And notice how you feel today, Starting from the crown of the head and working your way down the body, Down the face and neck, The torso and arms. Honestly taking note of any areas of tension or stress, Any areas that have sensation. Going all the way to the feet, The toes, And then bringing your attention back to the breath. Gentle inhales and exhales. We're going to bring up a trigger. So this is a circumstance or person or activity that makes you feel a sense of self-doubt or one that is associated with self-doubt in your mind. So bring to mind whatever brings up the most self-doubt for you. It may be speaking in front of a large audience or teaching or completing a particular activity or maybe interacting with someone who intimidates you. Bring that scenario up and truly be there. See if you can picture it. Once you bring that picture up, Either visually or just emotionally and sensorily, I invite you to once again scan your body. Top of the head, All the way down to the toes, Nice and slow. Moving down with awareness. Noticing any tension that comes up for you. Any worry or concern or sense of stagnancy. Taking your time moving down the body, Really focusing. What contracts when you imagine this scenario and trusting that you are safe, That you are here with me and other people meditating and connecting to your higher self. I invite you to continue to bring to mind this trigger. Whatever brings up feelings of self-doubt for you and then tone into your mind and notice the thoughts associated with these feelings of self-doubt. For many of us, I can't or I don't have the credentials or I'm not made up that way. Whatever it is that comes up for you, Just notice the thought. Notice it with objectivity. Continuing to breathe and observe from this safe meditative space. Notice the thoughts and the narratives that come up with a feeling of self-doubt and go ahead and release that focus and we'll begin to focus on the energy which is a little bit more subtle. Noticing how the energy contracts or expands, Condenses or you feel a momentum or lethargy. When you think about the things that make you feel self-doubt, Notice how the energy shifts and this can be very subtle so if you don't notice anything that's absolutely fine. Just ask yourself the question. Now coming back to the breath, Back to the body. Notice the natural inhale and exhale, Your divine rhythm. You and I and other people meditating together, Coming back to the present. Our second visualization will be about a time when we feel completely at ease and comfortable in our own skin. So bring to mind a time or a place or a person with which you can feel completely yourself. Maybe it's when you come home from work or maybe it's when you're at work. Maybe it's when you're in the flow of a creative act. I'd like you to bring up a time when you feel the most yourself. You feel a flow, A trust and meet that with awareness. Beginning again with the top of the head and just scanning down the body with awareness. Noticing any shifts in the way that you feel when you're in this state. Going all the way down the torso, Down to the hips, Down the legs and feet and just notice how you feel. Then tune into the thoughts, Really focusing on what you think or what you don't think. When you're in this state of flow and trust, Just watch and notice. And now for the subtlety, Notice the energy in your body as you bring to mind this time or place or person who invites you to be 100% yourself. Trusting, Loving, Flowing, Connecting. Notice what this energy feels like. Embody it and then release. Coming back to your breath, Focus on the inhales and exhales. Focus on this time here and now, You, Me, The rest of the people meditating with us right now. Breathe and focus. And when you're ready, Gently find a little movement in the body. Maybe wiggling the hands and feet, Stretching the body. And when you're ready, Gently blink your eyes awake, Open, Looking around the room. Now you can do the next part of this self-exploration just by taking a moment to think or you can grab a pen and paper or a computer and begin to type or write what came up for you, What shifts you noticed or didn't notice, And what you think this means in your world here and now. This is a beautiful foundation. Self-awareness is a place from which we can begin the journey from self-doubt to self-acceptance, Self-love, Self-esteem, And ultimately, Self-trust. It's a wonderful job today. I look forward to connecting again. I wish you well. Wishing you all good things. Thank you for meditating with me.