Forgiving Yourself

This track touches on the importance of forgiving yourself. It’s easy to be hard on ourselves as it’s equally easier to make mistakes. Whenever you do, regardless of the magnitude of your mistakes, remind yourself: It’s ok - and it’s going to be ok.

Transcript

This is Justin Michael Williams and welcome to your practice.

Forgive yourself.

Baby,

Just forgive yourself.

Every time we fall off track,

What I really believe is that we're just being polished and refined.

And no matter how deep your spiritual practices or how strongly you're rooted in your values and your vision,

We all make mistakes.

All of us fall off track,

All of us.

And I want you to know that it's okay.

It really is okay.

I know that feels easier to say than to do and to live sometimes,

But really it's okay.

And it's going to be okay,

Especially if you're willing to learn and grow from it all.

The key in these moments is not to shame or blame yourself.

In fact,

When they scan our brains,

It's proven that shame shuts down the centers of the brain that actually help you grow and change.

So the more you shame and blame yourself,

The less likely it'll be that you'll be able to evolve and learn and grow from whatever's happening in your life.

So regardless of what it is that you're thinking about or what it is that you're dealing with or what you're doing,

You have an opportunity right now to change course.

Right now,

You can make a new choice.

Right now,

You can choose something different.

Wherever you are right now,

This is the starting point.

If you're ready to find the lesson,

The real lesson,

I invite you to close your eyes and place both hands over your heart.

And take a deep breath in through your nose,

Letting the breath fill up your chest in your heart space and hold it for a moment.

And then exhale through your mouth.

Again,

Deep inhale through your nose,

Filling up your heart.

Hold it for just a moment.

And exhale through your mouth.

And now for this last breath,

We're going to do something a little bit different.

You're going to inhale through your nose again and hold it.

But when we exhale,

I want you to close your mouth and make a tender,

Gentle humming sound that kind of sounds like this.

Hmm.

When you exhale and you can let that humming sound last as long as you can.

So I'm going to count us through it now.

Take a deep breath in.

Hold it.

And then with a hum exhale.

Hmm.

Just tender and gentle with yourself.

Let's actually do that one more time just because it feels so good.

Go ahead and take a deep breath in.

Hold it.

Real loving and tender and gentle.

Go ahead and exhale.

Hmm.

With that humming sound.

Just feeling it vibrate in your heart.

And now just breathe normally.

And you can feel free to keep your hands over your heart if it feels comfortable.

I want you to start this practice by picturing yourself as a child.

Any younger age will do.

So just trust whatever comes up for you.

I want you to try to visualize this younger version of yourself as best as you can.

What is the child version of you wearing?

What do your shoes look like?

How old are you in this vision?

Or do you feel like you're a couple different ages and whatever is coming up for you?

Just go with what comes first and trust it.

What expression is on your face in this vision?

What body position are you in?

Are you indoor?

Are you outdoor in this vision?

Is there anyone there with you as you imagine your younger self?

Take a moment now to let this vision expand.

And if your mind starts to wander,

Which it might,

Remember it's totally normal.

Just bring yourself back as gently as you drifted away from the vision.

Wherever you are,

You can always begin again.

Go ahead and let that vision expand,

Bringing in whatever colors and sights and thoughts and things you can notice now.

And now I want you to invite into your vision any figure that makes that child version of you feel safe.

It can be a real person in your life or even some fictional figure or someone you don't know or someone you look up to.

It doesn't matter if it's realistic,

But just bring in anyone who this child version of you feels completely at ease with and at peace with and safe with.

It can be anyone from any part of your life,

A teacher,

A friend,

A mentor,

Even someone from TV,

Anyone that makes you feel at peace,

At ease and safe.

Go ahead and visualize that person now.

And what are they wearing?

What body position are they in in your vision?

Go ahead and let that vision expand and expand right now.

Now imagine that person comforting the younger version of you.

What would they be doing if they were comforting you and bringing you ease,

Making you feel safe in that younger self?

Allow yourself to just rest and relax and let go in their presence.

Rest,

Relax,

Let go.

You are safe.

You're okay.

It's okay.

Rest.

Relax.

Let go.

It's okay.

It's okay.

If your mind has started to wander a little bit,

It's okay.

Wherever you are right now,

Just begin again right here.

Immerse yourself in the vision of this safe and loving figure.

Feeling whatever arises,

It's okay.

Whatever arises is exactly what you need right now.

This is a time for you to learn and a time for you to grow and you don't have to do it all alone.

Ask from your heart.

Show me the lesson.

Show me the lesson.

What do I need to learn?

Where do I need to grow?

Show me the lesson.

Show me the lesson.

And trust what arises.

Trust that.

No matter how big or small,

Trust what arises.

Show me the lesson.

Now,

As we transition,

I want you to repeat after me and you can repeat these words either silently in your mind or with a gentle whisper,

Whatever feels good to you.

May I be safe.

May I be at peace.

May I be loving to myself.

May I be kind to myself.

May I accept myself for who I am and where I am.

And again,

Say it tenderly like you're speaking to that younger version of yourself,

Repeating these words in service to your growth and the lesson.

May I be safe.

May I be at peace.

May I be loving to myself.

May I be kind to myself.

May I accept myself for who I am and where I am.

This is the pathway to your growth.

This is the pathway.

This is it.

It's time.

Go ahead and take a deep breath in and a deep breath out.

And if you're ready,

Go ahead and open your eyes.

And what I invite you to do now is just take a few minutes to journal or even just take some notes in your phone about how you're going to grow and about anything that's come up for you in this process that you realized or brought awareness to.

Because when we go through any of these challenges,

We always have to remember we are shining ourselves and we're polishing ourselves and we're refining ourselves.

And every single step is leading you closer to home.

Every single step is leading you closer to home.

It is a great honor to practice with you today.

I send you love,

Shining,

And the biggest blessings.

Namaste.

Reviews

So very powerful and synchronistic for what came up in a healing session I did yesterday. It was no accident I chose this meditation today. Thank you 🙏🏻

Tender and powerful. Thank you so much for sharing this gem.

This was a wonderful and much needed practice- deep thanks and gratitude 💚

Absolutely beautiful and perfect for what I need in this moment and moving forward. Thank you for your time, energy and wisdom.

Thank you for this amazing meditation. 🧘 It is exactly what I need. 🪷

This was such an incredible meditation. I sometimes find it difficult to envision/connect with figures or other beings when I’m in guided mediation, and I was so pleasantly surprised to find I connected immediately with such a forgiving, loving, and connecting soul with your guidance. Thank you thank you!

Gosh Justin. That was really special. Thank you for the motivation to remember that we all make mistakes, and it’s okay. 👌

Wow! I think this might be the key to it all. ✨Thank you so much, Justin🙏🦋💚

This really brought up what lesson I'd been not learning since childhood. It just came up in plain sight. Thank you so much for helping me see clearly what needs to be learnt.

This meditation had a powerful and profound effect on me. I found myself in the all-encompassing arms of my maternal grandmother who I lost when I was ten. I realised that I never let go and never forgave her for leaving me. This year I will honour her by making a journey so that I can finally say goodbye to her and thank her for her unconditional love. Forty years is too long to hold on to so much pain and suffering. I am - and always was - good enough. And I am most definitely loved. Namaste 🙏

An inspirational and powerful session. Really gentle too.

Thankyou!! Thankyou!! Thankyou!! 🥰
I was in a difficult place this morning and needed this!
Remembering a time in my childhood...my smile just got bigger and bigger....
A safe person, fond memories and loving tears.
I found the affirmations a bit difficult to say, but that's just me...and I guess that's a part of the forgiveness...
I loved this. I feel lighter. It's definitely a favourite.
Thankyou so much 💛 🌈

Thanks - very sweet and tender, just what I needed.

Man I cried and have a hard time forgiving my past. This meditation made me feel calm and know everyone makes mistakes.

Powerful. It was the adult me who was there for the younger me. So lovely. 🙏🏾💫

Wow 🤩 that was so transformative and I deeply am grateful for this meditation 🧘 practice.

You’re a gift to insight timer. Thank you 🙏 for making a difference.

I’ve only just come across you. Maybe it’s the right time for where I’m at. You ask questions which I find extremely hard to answer but which really make me think and reflect. I’ve already learnt so much. Thank you.

That was incredible. I was brought to tears and smiles. Thank you

So uplifting, compassionate and caring. Beautifully composed and passionately spoken. This felt so good! Thank you!

Very vivid and natural feeling of imagination, brought me to a path that l will follow. Simple path to and practice of forgiveness. Thank you.