Taking a minute to arrive in this moment,
Breathing deeply from your belly to your throat,
This is your time to begin to connect with yourself where you can find comfort and solace.
Place a hand on your heart and offer yourself kindness,
Awareness of what you have experienced,
And validation of your disappointments,
Of the failures in relationships to feel close,
Reminding yourself that you are worthy of love and connection and friendship.
Begin to visualize a small cabin in your favorite place in the world,
A place where you can keep all the memories and emotions,
The happiness,
The sadness,
A place where you can be kind to yourself.
In this small cabin,
Bring in the quality of self-kindness and gentleness,
Picturing objects that represent kindness and self-gentleness.
Maybe this is just a warm blanket,
A candle,
A tea kettle,
A warm fire,
Maybe it's pictures of meaningful memories,
Part of your life and your experience.
Picture yourself safe inside your cabin.
You are not alone in this experience of feeling disconnected at times from others.
There are many people who have experienced loneliness,
Disconnection,
And feelings of failure in their attempts to be close to others.
Visualize a web of connected small cabins in different parts of the world where people are feeling these similar emotions,
Soaking up all of the beauty,
Safety,
Human connectedness that you feel in this moment.
Let yourself feel any emotions that may come up.
Take a moment to tend to your emotions and consider exploring the hidden emotions that you usually keep to yourself.
Maybe it's fear,
Sadness,
Or uncertainty.
Give yourself permission to feel these emotions and express them to someone you trust,
And find ways of expressing them in your life.
Allowing yourself to recognize that the feeling of pressure to be happy and positive and energetic can sometimes get in the way of being vulnerable.
It's okay to feel all the emotions and express them,
Even the lower energy emotions.
It's okay to express and experience grief,
Sadness,
And depression.
These emotions are all real and they allow us to appreciate what life truly is even more.
They create contrast.
Take the time to acknowledge your emotions,
To be honest with yourself in this moment of solitude.
Notice any raw spots in your body,
Any emotions wishing to be expressed,
Or any recurring thoughts or memories asking for your attention.
Take your time and let your heart guide you.
If memories of losing someone,
Or some place,
Or something you hold dear come up,
Please know that it's okay.
You are not alone.
I am here with you.
You are creating space to listen to yourself and honor your experiences of grief so you can connect more deeply with your vulnerability and authenticity.
Use these raw feelings that arrive as threads to what might need processing and remembering.
Is this raw place connected to a younger version of you?
What experiences does the younger version of you wish to remember and honor?
Think of a recent experience that left you feeling unsettled,
Anxious,
Stressed,
Angry,
Or some other strong emotion.
Where in your body do you notice this emotion?
Maybe it's a tightness in your chest,
Or a heaviness,
Pain in your jaw,
Tension in your shoulders,
Tightness in your throat,
Or a pit in your stomach.
Do any of these sensations in your body feel familiar or connect to earlier experiences in your life?
If you find yourself experiencing an emotion or sensation that is difficult to sit with,
It may be helpful to reflect on similar experiences from your past and why this sensation is so difficult to be with.
Ask this sensation in your body what it needs from you right now.
By asking these questions,
You can begin to identify what your body needs in this moment,
To respond to both past and present experiences and emotions,
And how you can meet those needs.
Maybe this sensation in your body is asking you to heal some of the inner child parts of you and act as an adult for them.
Allow yourself to be gentle and patient throughout this process and know that it's okay to take the time you need to reflect.
Many people connect recent experiences of strong emotions with much earlier moments and memories of not being able to say something or set a boundary.
Often a physical act of setting a boundary to complete an old memory or action is helpful.
Maybe there's a physical action that would help you complete that old experience.
Pushing something away,
Yell or cry,
Perhaps you need to leave a situation symbolically closing a door,
Literally walking away,
Or maybe you need to give yourself a hug.
Maybe it's stating an opinion you never had the chance to state or say,
Or closing your eyes and opening them to a new reality as an adult.
Attune to what you need and allow that with kindness.
Check in with yourself now.
Do you still need to do something for yourself so this experience feels finished?
Becoming aware of your body responses allows you to soften around them and give yourself just what you need to release stuck,
Recycled emotions,
Old,
Limiting beliefs about yourself or others,
And to begin to act with more vulnerability and authenticity day to day,
Honoring the experiences that have created who you are and offering yourself the compassionate presence you deserve.
Be kind to yourself and ask the following questions more often.
What do I need or want right now?
What does my body need to do to move,
To rest,
To be still,
To speak,
To be silent?
Where is my voice and how does it sound?
What would help release this emotion or allow me to voice my own opinion and thought?
Your vulnerability inspires others to be more open and genuine,
Deepening your relationships with those around you.
Thank you so much for joining me on this journey towards greater vulnerability.
