A meditation using Ahimsa to manifest self-love,
Self-respect,
And acceptance.
We live in a culture and a society where criticism,
Self-judgment,
And arguably self-mutilation is so common that we almost don't recognize it when we do it to ourselves.
This meditation is designed to use Ahimsa,
The yoga sutra and philosophical tool of nonviolence,
To manifest self-respect,
Love,
And confidence.
Because the practice of nonviolence towards others begins with ourselves.
So with that,
Come into your comfortable seated position or come to lie on down.
Begin to scan the body from head to toe and really take a moment to breathe.
Begin to be aware of the fingers,
The toes,
The belly and chest expanding and softening with every breath you take.
Begin to notice everything that has come up for you today and the energy that has drawn you to this meditation.
Just continue to breathe.
Relaxing and letting thoughts of the outside world go.
And bring your awareness to the parts of the body that you have learned and come to really love – your eyes,
Your lips,
Your hair,
Your belly,
Your thighs,
Your ankles,
Your feet,
Your spine,
Your mind,
Your bones,
Your organs.
Whatever it is that you love,
Or maybe it's all of it,
Just breathe into that.
Recognize it,
Observe it,
And how deeply do you love these parts.
Really meditate in this energy of love and acceptance,
Even if it's just one part of your body or multiple parts.
Just allow yourself to breathe into that love and continue to observe the energy of how you feel when you breathe into the loving energy and acceptance of these physical parts of you.
Now bring your awareness into the spots and parts of the body that may not be your favorite,
That may evoke memories of criticism and judgment,
Whether it be from others or yourself.
Bring your awareness there,
To the one part or to all the parts.
Whatever comes up to you,
Don't judge whatever part comes up to you,
Just be aware.
Breathe into those parts and begin to release any criticism,
Any judgment,
Anxiety,
Fear,
Dislike or even hate,
Whatever it is that you feel,
Begin to take a nice big deep inhale into those parts of the body and sigh everything else out.
Beginning to make the connection between the parts of the body that you love and see how those parts are connected to the ones that you may not like as much or you have been violent towards,
Whether in thought or in action,
Are part of you.
All the parts that you love are connected to all the parts that you don't love so much.
And begin to send thoughts of gratitude as you make the connection between all these aspects of your physical body.
Apologize to yourself for any criticism,
Rejection that you have had and let everything else go.
Begin to allow yourself to think of all the aspects of your non-physical body,
The parts of you that you love.
It may be your kindness,
Who you are as a friend,
Who you are as a human.
And it may be challenging to think of something or it may come easily,
But try not to judge or criticize and if it's challenging,
Just admit that that's okay.
It's okay if we sometimes find it challenging to find what we love about ourselves that isn't so physical,
Because we are masters in self-rejection and it's easy to criticize.
So it's okay.
And as you recognize all of the beautiful loving things about who you are that you can't necessarily see in a mirror or on paper,
I will take you through you are more affirmations.
You can repeat them or just listen to them.
You are more than the number in your bank account.
You are more than the number on the scale.
You are more than what people say you are capable of.
You are more than how others view your physical appearance.
You are more than your grade on a test.
You are more than your IQ.
You are more than a promotion or lack of one.
You are more than any recognition you may or may not get based on all of your many talents.
You are more than results on a medical exam.
You are more than others' opinions of you.
You are more than how you look in the mirror or the color of your eyes.
You are more than the shape of your nose.
You are more than the texture of your hair.
You are more than your past mistakes.
You are more than what someone labels you or what you even label yourself.
You are more than your background.
You are more than your trauma.
You are more than the number of how many people like you.
Always remember that you are a child of this universe.
Your human experience and your life is unique to you.
Your body and mind is yours.
All that you love about yourself and embrace and all that you hate about yourself and violently shun,
Judge,
And criticize are all a part of the one and beautiful you.
You can always grow in positivity,
But where you want to be or where you think you should be,
What you want to look like and how you would like to be seen by the world is arguably way smaller and insignificant to who you truly are.
Allow yourself to recognize that you are an encapsulated series of stories,
Life journeys,
And experiences of everyone who came before you.
You are the journey and the destination,
Moving freely throughout this world.
You are not negative comments or actions,
And you are not your negative feelings about yourself.
So with this recognition,
This awareness to all that you are and the more that you are,
Begin to let go and forgive any judgment towards yourself,
Any criticism,
Hate,
Desire to control something innately natural about who you are.
And know deep in your heart and breathe in that you are worthy,
That you are enough,
And that you are exactly where you need to be.
Take this energy with you for the rest of your day,
Evening,
Or night.
Let go of the violence towards yourself and know you are planting a seed by listening to this.
That will allow you to become less violent towards yourself and eventually towards others.
You are worthy.
You are enough.
And you are exactly how and where you are meant to be.
Namaste.
