A warm welcome to you.
If you are like most of us,
Your mind probably sends you messages all day suggesting that in order to love and accept yourself and to be loved and accepted by others,
You need to in some way be more.
Perhaps more attractive,
More financially independent,
More interesting,
More confident or more adventurous.
Perhaps deep down you think that in order to accept yourself completely you need to be more patient,
More kind,
More compassionate or selfless.
When we see ourselves in this way,
It invites in this sense that right now we are in some way lacking.
We are in some way not enough.
This sense of lacking erodes our self-belief and confidence.
It feels heavy in our hearts.
It can lead us to shying away from opportunities and not embracing all that life could potentially be.
And don't we all deserve the opportunity to embrace this one precious life?
And so in today's meditation we shall explore the liberating idea that even amidst our imperfections,
In this moment we are enough.
In this moment we are free to accept ourselves and enjoy life just as we are.
To me this feels both empowering and exciting.
So settling now into a comfortable position and closing down your eyes if you like.
Letting the landscape of your awareness turn inwards.
Gently reminding yourself that right now there is nowhere else you need to be.
That it's okay to take this time for yourself.
And as we begin today's practice,
Can you welcome all the parts of you who are present?
Perhaps you can welcome your tired self.
Your self who has been impatient lately.
Your self who has felt overwhelmed,
Anxious or unsure.
Perhaps you can welcome in this self that really desires acceptance.
Or this self that yearns for more presence or peace.
And just offering all these parts of you a smile.
This gesture of friendliness,
Of peace and acceptance.
And drawing your awareness now to your breath.
No need to manipulate your breath in any way.
Just being both curious and accepting towards your breath as it is in this moment.
Air flowing in.
Air flowing out.
Noticing that your body breathes on its own.
That you are being breathed.
Surrendering into this act of acceptance.
This act of being breathed.
Resting here in the wisdom of your body.
In this safe space you have created within,
I ask you,
What is the more that you tell yourself?
What quality or characteristic do you tell yourself you need to have more of in order to love and accept yourself?
In order to be loved and accepted by others?
Does it relate to your physical appearance?
To your personality?
To your life circumstance?
Just allowing these reflections to move in and out of your awareness.
No need to analyse.
No need to judge.
Remaining open and curious.
Allowing these ideas you hold about yourself to move across your awareness like clouds in a summer's sky.
And drawing your awareness now to your exhale.
And if you are able,
Lengthening your exhale.
Allowing the outflow of air to be long and smooth.
Perhaps you can hear its gentle whisper as it leaves your body.
With each exhale can you notice a softening?
Softening across your eyes.
Your cheeks.
Your jaw.
Softening across your shoulders.
Your chest.
Softening your stomach.
Hips and pelvis.
Allowing this sense of softening to spread a little deeper.
Within this sense of physical softening there is a space to let go of these ideas that you need to be more.
And so with each out-breath these ideas that you need to be in some way more are slowly leaving your mind,
Body and heart.
With each out-breath a letting go.
Resting here in this sense of relaxation,
Of peace,
Of spaciousness that comes from within this act of letting go.
And from here we are able to arrive into a growing sense of self-acceptance.
An acceptance that right now,
In this moment,
I am peaceful.
I am exactly where I need to be.
A sense that right now I am safe and free to accept myself exactly as I am.
Repeating these phrases silently in your mind.
I am safe.
I am peaceful.
I accept myself just as I am.
I am enough.
With one deep intentional breath really allowing yourself to absorb these messages of acceptance deep into your body and your heart.
Repeating these phrases silently in your mind once more.
I am safe.
I am peaceful.
I accept myself just as I am.
I am enough.
Enjoying another deep intentional breath into these sentiments of self-acceptance.
Really allowing them to feel true for you in this moment.
Being open here to any sense of emotion,
Of vulnerability that comes from learning to love and accept yourself just as you are.
And continuing to draw your awareness to the natural ebb and flow of your breath.
Allowing this rhythm now to cultivate a feeling of peace and self-acceptance inside you.
Imagining yourself moving through your days with this felt sense of acceptance.
What would your day look and feel like?
What would your day look and feel like?
How would your interactions with others look and feel?
How would your interactions with others look and feel?
From this place of expanded awareness and acceptance,
Perhaps you may like to offer yourself a gentle commitment to the nature of your life.
From this place of expanded awareness and acceptance,
Perhaps you may like to offer yourself a gentle commitment to the nature of your life.
Whether you would like to interact with yourself,
With others or with the world around you.
Seal this commitment with one deep intentional breath.
When you are ready,
Offering your fingers and toes some small movements.
Slowly bringing your awareness back into the space you are in.
May you move through your days with a greater sense of self-acceptance and that you are already enough.
Thank you.
