So,
Feel free to close your eyes or soften your gaze and begin to take a few deep breaths.
As you breathe,
Is it possible to let go of any overt tension you notice yourself holding?
Softening through the muscles of the face,
Letting your shoulders drop away from your ears,
Relaxing through the upper and lower back,
Letting your belly hang,
Allowing your arms and hands to rest,
Letting your legs and torso and feet feel supported by the chair by the ground below you.
And just taking a moment to settle into this space.
Is it possible today to reflect on this idea of imposter syndrome,
The anxiety that comes up for us when we have to perform,
Fulfill a role when others might see our expertise or lack thereof?
We come into situations each day where we are faced with this underlying anxiety.
Is it possible for you to look through your recent history and pull up a time where you noticed this anxiety present?
This could be bringing to mind a task that feels overwhelming or felt overwhelming or scary,
Could be something that you have to do that you don't feel exactly confident in,
Or it could even be a task that you do feel confident in,
Yet are still worried of how others will receive you.
Perhaps it is a role where you believe others will have high expectations that you might not meet.
Whatever it is,
Is it possible to roll this situation over in your mind and notice the anxiety that's present,
This part of you that fears failing,
That worries about meeting others' expectations,
That worries about how you will measure up to your own expectations?
Noticing this part of you that fears the worst,
And we're just going to spend a few moments familiarizing ourself with this part of us,
Getting to know it a little bit better.
Where does this part of you reside in your body?
Where can you sense it?
Just imagining where you feel it most strongly.
If this part of you,
If this anxiety,
If this fear had a shape or a form,
What would it look like?
Is it doing anything while it lives inside of you?
Is it moving,
Is it growing,
Is it static,
Is it chaotic or frenzied,
Or is it digging its heels into the mud and getting more grounded?
Is it talking or yelling,
Is it making any noises at all?
What is this anxiety,
This fear trying to tell you?
What is it saying?
And we can identify this usually when we recognize the thoughts that pop into our own mind when we notice the fear or the anxiety.
What is this part of you believing?
That you will fail,
That you won't be understood,
That you should be better or do better,
That everyone will remember a mistake that you make,
That you're not good enough?
Keep breathing.
If this is what this part of you is believing,
What is this part of you feeling?
Is it feeling fear or sadness,
Panic or a sense of urgency?
Is it feeling frustrated or even angry?
Just noticing how this part of you might feel,
Taking another breath.
Is it possible to notice how old this part of you thinks that you are?
Is it seeing you for who you are now,
Or is it still seeing you as a child?
I wonder if this part of you believes that it has to take over,
That it has to be the one to protect you.
I wonder if it feels it cannot rely on the other parts of you,
The parts of who you are now,
Including the knowledge or expertise that you have,
Your strengths,
Your resilience.
I wonder if it feels it doesn't know or can't rely on the positive aspects of your vulnerability.
If it can't rely on your trust in others or in yourself.
If this part of you is feeling that way,
I imagine it also feels quite overwhelmed,
Quite alone,
That the pressure of the world is on its shoulders.
How might you respond to this part of you?
How do you want to respond to it?
Is it possible to let it know that you appreciate that they're trying to take care of you,
That you understand they're trying to protect you?
Can you let this part of you know that their desire to keep you safe and loved is a valid goal,
And you have gratitude that they want that for you?
Is it possible to communicate with this part of you that's often here and ask it what it needs from you?
Does it need to be heard,
Understood,
Or validated?
Does it need forgiveness?
Does it need to rest?
And if it is able to tell you what it needs,
Is it possible for you to communicate some reassurance of what it might need,
That it can rest,
That it can trust the other parts of you that have developed,
That have grown,
That have evolved,
That it's okay if you don't excel in everything,
And that you and it will still be loved and accepted and cared for,
That perhaps the goal to be safe and loved can still be honored,
Perhaps through alternative actions and intentions?
Is it possible to notice how it is responding to how you are communicating with it?
There's a poem by Hafez called It Felt Love.
How did the rose ever open its heart and give to the world all of its beauty?
It felt the encouragement of light against its being.
Otherwise,
We all remain too frightened.
In this world of chaos and busyness and extreme pressure,
We all want to achieve and succeed and be loved.
We can honor that desire,
That instinctual need,
By accessing the light and love within and around us to shine through and allow our underlying fear to rest.
Feel free to take another few deep breaths,
Moving your body in gentle ways as you reawaken to this moment.
And when you're ready,
Feel free to let light back in through your eyes.
Namaste.
