Befriending Yourself

Compassion has to start with ourselves. This meditation practice is to help you get back in contact, and have compassion, for yourself: to befriend yourself. It will gently guide you to become your own best friend.

Transcript

This is a guided meditation practice from Buddhism Guide,

Called,

Befriending Yourself.

Sit comfortably on the floor or an unarmed chair,

With your body relaxed and your back straight but not too rigid.

Now gently close your eyes.

Before we start the meditation,

I want you to focus your attention on how you are feeling.

How does your body feel?

What emotions are you feeling?

Are you tired or awake?

Anxious or settled?

Tense or relaxed?

Just do a personal check-in with your feelings.

Don't judge them or try to change them.

Just become aware of them.

Now let's start the meditation.

I want you to breathe in deeply through your nose.

Hold the breath.

Now breathe all the air out through your mouth.

Breathe in deeply.

Hold the breath.

Breathe all the air out.

Breathe in deeply.

Hold.

Breathe out.

Now breathe normally,

Making sure your breath is slow and natural.

I want you to bring your awareness to your breath as it flows into your body and then back out again.

Just become aware of the air entering and leaving your body.

Now think of a time when you were disappointed with yourself.

Maybe you made a mistake,

Became sick,

Said something you regret,

Got angry with a loved one,

Had a feeling of sadness or anxiety,

Got in contact with any tension,

Stress,

Emotions or any discomfort you may be feeling in your body.

I want you to silently repeat these following affirmations.

This is just a moment of suffering.

This is just a moment of suffering.

Keep repeating this.

Suffering is a part of life.

Everyone suffers like this.

Everyone suffers like this.

I am not alone in my suffering.

I am not alone in my suffering.

May I learn to accept the way I am feeling?

May I learn to accept the way I am feeling?

May I have compassion for myself?

May I be safe,

Strong,

Healthy and happy?

May I be safe,

Strong,

Healthy and happy?

I am my own best friend.

I care for myself.

I have compassion for myself.

I am my own best friend.

I care for myself.

I have compassion for myself.

Now feel the warmth of compassion all over your body.

Sit with this feeling of compassion in your heart.

Now we are nearing the end of the meditation.

So I want you to put your awareness on your feelings again.

How are you feeling now?

Have your feelings changed from a few minutes ago?

Are you more relaxed and peaceful?

Remember,

Don't judge.

Just become aware.

Just reflect on your feelings.

In a moment,

After the final three bells,

Start to slowly open your eyes and gently introduce yourself back into the world.

Reviews

Thank you so much! This meditation helps me to be firstly much more relaxed, more gentle with myself and I can take better care of myself! Thanks a lot. ☺️🫶❤️

Have a lovely day! ☺️

I just discovered your meditations and I love them. I felt more peaceful and full of confidence after this meditation. Thank you very much 🙏🏼

that was really powerful, my physiology and state of has been changed for good ❤️ thank you!

This was especially helpful. It helped me to become calmer.

Just what I needed. Perfect pace. Perfect words. Thank you so much.

Wonderful and insightful meditation., so many are looking for happiness and validation from external things like friends, spouses, material things..ect. ect. When all we need is to be content with the friendship within our own hearts and minds. In my opinion anyway. How can we give friendship and love to others if we do not have it for ourselves.
Thank you for this meditation
Much appreciated
J@<¥🌙

Excellent…thank you for opening our hearts to compassion for ourselves.

Great guidance and very helpful. I feel so far away from myself and my center at the moment so I think I will comer back to this one again in the next few days, thank you!

Nice & gentle, like a dad holding his child's hand and speaking softly. Good, kind words & messages. Thank you.

Thank you 🙏🏾 🌺

Beautiful mantras altho as I’m struggling with self acceptance some were very challenging but clearly very needed

I appreciated the shift of feelings through this meditation. A really interesting experience

I really enjoy all of your meditations, great for just taking a few minutes to remind yourself, it's all OK

I love this meditation 🌙🌱💕

Thank you so much for this guided meditation. A wonderful way to start my day. 🙏💕

Thank you for sharing this meditation. Perfect pace and soothing voice

Voice is calming, guidance is clear. The affirmations helped me slow down my thoughts and see them versus engage in them. Helped me stop hurting myself with constant engagement with negative thoughts

very good, thank you🙏

Very relaxing meditation and nice pace.Thank you.🙏