Overcoming Anxiety With Authenticity

Neurodivergent individuals tend to have social differences mismatched to the dominant culture, creating intense stress and anxiety recurring through time. Perceiving yourself as different can often lead to self-aversion and shame. You can begin reclaiming your authenticity and social boundaries by coming back into connection with your body and heart. This meditation is designed to guide you through a practice of reclaiming your sense of self, helping you restore a confidence and connection inside that can begin to translate into social settings.

Transcript

Overcoming social anxiety with authenticity. Begin by finding yourself a comfortable position, Whether that's lying down, Standing, Sitting. You're welcome to move your body during this practice. I want to suggest that we begin by sweeping through the body, And I suggest you doing this with your physical hands, Just brushing gently from the head down the face and the neck. You can sweep over from your chest over one shoulder and down your arm. And you can do that on the other side as well. Brushing down the belly, The hips, And finally down the legs. Give your body a little wiggle and a little shake just to loosen up your energy. And then begin to find inward attention or focus, Eyes open or closed. If you feel like stillness is difficult for you, You're welcome to use a fidget or to sway or rock back and forth. This is the beginning of finding authenticity. This is listening to your nervous system and what it actually needs or wants in this moment. So take a deep breath in and release it out. And then bring your hand to your heart. You might feel your heart beat or you might just feel an energetic connection with your heart. This is a place where the nerves are sensitive. So by placing the hand here, You can actually access your feelings, Your brain, Your state of regulation. Just notice what comes up for you with placing your hand on your heart. Is there relief? Is there love? Perhaps there's some shame or self-aversion happening. Often with social anxiety, There is some degree of shame or self-hatred, Self-judgment. So whether that's something you're experiencing in this moment or whether you're familiar with that experience in daily life, I want to encourage you to meet this moment with your heart, With gentle awareness. You don't need to try and create a certain feeling here. In fact, This practice is more about receiving. Than it is about doing. Something that often helps me make that shift is just to maybe shift my weight backwards a little. If I'm sitting so that I'm less forward holding my body upright in a somewhat of a fight or flight mode. You can play around with what this looks like if you're lying down or standing or walking. Shifting backwards into a more receptive posture. We have the opportunity to meet our challenges. Our weaknesses, We might say our demons. With love, Kindness, Curiosity. And if those feel like a reach for you, Simply try for calmness. This is an opportunity to retrain your nervous system. To meet yourself in a moment of difficulty. Right here in this moment. Can you tune in? To your own body, Your own brain, Your mind. It does not have to feel perfectly peaceful and pleasant. You can, In fact, Meet your authentic self, Even if there is distress, Turmoil, Resistance inside yourself. But still simply getting to meet yourself here in this moment. Hand to heart. Noticing if there's anything that small ways you might learn to feel into the comfort of the moment. You might need to remind yourself here, I am physically safe. I'm not being physically threatened. I'm not at risk of being physically harmed. Let's see how this lands in your body. The practice is of feeding your demons with gentle presence. Rather than fighting them. And in this way, You yourself. Are the one who is bigger than the anxiety you're experiencing. You don't have to defeat it. To feel calm or courageous or compassionate. Practice simply being here. Allowing things to be just the way they are. And if it's possible to soften just a bit around the edges of your anxiety. You can see if there's a tiny bit of strain or tension that you can release. You can see if there's a tiny bit of self-judgment or stress that you can let go of. Just coming back to meeting yourself exactly the way you are. In this moment. This authenticity is a way to exist in the world without having to mask to cover up who you are or how you feel. And it doesn't have to look pretty or look a certain way for it to be a powerful expression of your authenticity. Please stay here with this practice as long as it feels helpful for your body. Thank you.