Strengthening Your Sense Of Deep Inner Confidence

A warm welcome to you.

It is my pleasure to guide you in this practice that will connect you with your own deep and enduring sense of inner confidence.

Yes,

That's right,

You already have confidence deep within you.

In this crazy modern world we often think that we will experience a greater sense of confidence if we achieve more,

And if our successes are noticed and praised by others.

In truth,

When we measure our own sense of confidence by our external achievements,

Or by how others see us,

We set ourselves up for disappointment and an ongoing experience of not feeling enough.

Sure,

We may experience a momentary rush of confidence and satisfaction as we complete that tricky job,

Or get everything on our to-do list done,

Or we receive some passing praise,

But this moment of confidence is short lived as we turn our attention to the next thing we want to achieve,

Or the next person we are seeking approval from,

And so the cycle of chasing confidence continues.

I'm guessing you can relate to these ideas.

You may even be smiling at how this sounds a little like you.

Interestingly,

If we allow ourselves the opportunity to slow down,

To let go of the struggle to always achieve more,

To be more,

To have more,

We begin to realize that confidence is actually an inside job.

That is,

Confidence lives in our inner world,

Not in our external environment.

When we sit in meditation,

When we connect with the parts of us who are more than simply busy,

We can connect with the deeper layers within us.

Here we meet our self who is naturally and deeply confident.

This is a quiet sense of confidence.

Are you ready to meet this part of you in today's practice?

Wonderful.

So beginning by settling into a comfortable position,

Relaxed yet alert,

And closing down your eyes if you like.

Drawing your awareness to your breath.

Feeling the air as it enters your body.

Feeling the air as it leaves your body.

Noticing the natural rise and fall of your chest as you breathe.

Noticing how your body breathes on its own.

You are being breathed.

Resting here in the intelligence of your body.

If thoughts come,

That's ok.

Simply offer them a smile and return to the natural ebb and flow of your breath.

Feeling your feet as they touch the ground.

Noticing the soles of your feet as they meet the surface below.

The balls of your feet.

All ten toes.

Really feeling this connection with the earth below.

Shoulders drawing down your back a little away from your ears.

Noticing how this naturally encourages your chest to feel more open.

Softening across your eyes.

Feeling your lips slightly upwards.

Resting in this posture of confidence for a moment now.

Enjoying three deep intentional breaths here in this posture of gentle confidence.

Chest back,

Chest open and a half smile.

Noticing how even this subtle postural shift encourages a shift in how you feel.

Really allowing this experience to land within.

Moving your awareness now to your inhale.

Feeling that with each inhale your chest expands at the front,

The back and the sides.

Feeling three breaths here.

Really noticing your chest expand in all directions.

Feeling this opportunity for expansion.

Smiling into this opportunity.

Now this sense of physical expansion inviting a sense of expanded awareness.

Awareness in how you see yourself.

With each in breath you are feeling a little more confident from the inside out.

Breathing in confidence.

Breathing out self-doubt.

Breathing in confidence.

Breathing out fear.

Continuing to breathe in this way.

Really inviting in a sense of confidence.

No right or wrong here.

Noticing how it feels for you in your body and maybe even in your heart.

Maybe you notice tingling or warmth.

Perhaps you feel sensations in your feet or hands,

In your stomach or chest.

Maybe you notice a sense of lightness or relaxation.

Perhaps you can feel or hear your heart beating.

Resting here in this open awareness.

What does confidence feel like for you?

Does it feel like peace,

Presence,

Self-worth or inspiration?

If confidence had a colour for you what would it be?

Imagining yourself breathing in this colour now.

With each in breath this colour of confidence moving down your throat.

Deep into your chest.

Filling your lungs and heart.

With each in breath this sense of confidence travelling deep into your belly.

This colour moving into your hips and pelvis.

Really landing there.

This colour and sense of confidence moving all the way down your legs to your feet and toes.

Each toe filled with sensation.

This colour and energy moving across the width of your shoulders.

Trickling down your arms to your hands and ten fingers.

Each finger alive with sensation.

Enjoying a deep breath.

Really allowing this sense of confidence to land.

Imagining this colour filling your entire body.

Reaching all the way out to the edges of your skin.

Enjoying a deep breath.

And as you exhale this colour of confidence is surrounding you.

You are being held in this bubble of confidence and colour.

Maybe you can see it,

Feel it or sense it.

No right or wrong here.

Simply remaining open and curious.

Repeating these phrases silently in your mind.

My confidence is deep and enduring.

External forces cannot affect my inner confidence.

Taking a deep breath into this sense of inner strength.

And asking yourself,

What is one thing I will do today or over the coming days to bring this sense of inner confidence alive.

Allowing this image to unfold in your mind's eye now.

Who is there?

What are you doing?

What words are you speaking?

What does your body language look like?

How do you feel in this moment you have created in your mind's eye?

Taking a deep breath into this image of confidence.

Letting it land like a seed in your heart.

From here,

Offering yourself a gentle intention for today relating to how you will embrace this deep and enduring sense of inner confidence.

Sending this intention out into the world with one grateful breath.

Noticing your feet on the ground once more.

Taking some gentle movement in your hands and feet.

Opening your eyes to your new day.

When you see this colour that represents confidence for you out in the world.

Pause.

Take a breath.

Feel your feet on the ground and connect with your own deep and enduring sense of inner confidence.