Good morning.
I'm Susan Guttridge and I'm so pleased to be starting this day with you.
As we begin,
Give your body a stretch,
Allowing the energy of this new day to seep into every part of you.
Notice your breath,
Slow and deep,
The soft,
Rhythmic beating of your heart.
Notice the peaceful stillness of the morning slowly unfolding around you.
I'd like to start your morning inspiration with a question.
How would you show up today if you weren't limited by the opinions of others?
As you reflect on that,
You might consider what it might feel like to release the quiet worry of being liked,
Approved of,
Or understood by everyone around you.
To not need to be all things to all people.
When I consider that question,
I think about things like how often are we dimming our light,
Softening our voice,
Or altering our choices,
Not because it's true to us,
But because we anticipate judgments or seek acceptance.
This constant editing of ourselves is a heavy burden.
It carries a high price,
Because it pulls us away from our authentic self.
Here's a truth to consider.
We can become so conditioned to turning our gaze outward to focus on the opinions of others,
Or even the perceived opinions of others,
That we lose ourselves.
So often,
Though,
The opinion of another has nothing at all to do with us.
It's a reflection of their own story,
Their own fears,
Or their own insecurities.
Yet we pick it up and judge ourselves by it,
When it was never ours to hold in the first place.
What if you could step into this day guided purely by your own values,
Your own compassionate wisdom?
This isn't about arrogance or defiance.
It's actually a deep act of self-trust.
It's recognizing that your worth isn't determined by what others think of you,
But by the integrity with which you live and hold your own truth.
When you release the need for external validation,
You create space to connect more fully with who you genuinely are,
And how you genuinely want to show up in the world.
So,
As you move into your day,
I invite you to hold this intention.
Today,
I choose to be more myself.
When a moment arises where you feel tempted to shrink or conform to an external expectation,
Pause.
Take a breath.
Ask yourself,
What is my most authentic response here?
What aligns with my heart and my values?
Trust that living from your own center is the most powerful way to connect,
To contribute,
To thrive,
To honor you.
Thank you for sharing your morning with me.
Be well today.
Thank you.
