Hello and welcome to this meditation on not taking others' opinions personally.
My name's Rachel and I'm going to be your guide over the next few moments together.
Before we begin,
I invite you to find yourself a comfortable seated position.
Somewhere that you can be safe for the next few moments.
If it feels safe to do so,
Perhaps closing down your eyes.
Allowing yourself to drop inwards.
I want to share that in life,
We often have a set way of seeing things.
A way of experiencing the world that is uniquely ours.
We move in a way that is ours.
We think in a way that is ours.
And thus our opinions and visions are constantly shaped by our own realities.
When we are feeling good,
We are feeling joy,
We are feeling our best.
This can feel empowering.
But sometimes when we're presented with the opinions of other people,
This sense of self-worth and identity can come crumbling down.
And this is so true if you're operating with a sensitive nervous system or you're someone who is sensitive.
Because those views and opinions can hurt so much more.
This is often catapulted by the ever demanding world around us,
Social media,
The pressures to do more and be more.
And we can start to feel that the other's opinions and ideas about how we should live our lives or what we are doing is something that we should constantly seek approval from.
This meditation is designed for you to drop into yourself and to embody who you are and set clear boundaries without leaving yourself.
Before we begin,
I invite you just to take a few deep grounding breaths in through your nose and a simple sigh out through your mouth.
Just to arrive into this space today.
And then begin to just drop into how your breath is feeling right now.
Just noticing your breath and connecting inwards.
Noticing the gentle rise and fall of your breathing.
Connecting inwards.
Without judgement or comparison.
And I want you to bring to mind a special place in nature.
Somewhere that you are fond of.
Perhaps you've known for your whole life.
And if you don't have one,
Just bring it to mind somewhere you have seen.
That makes you feel particularly safe and at peace.
Really remembering and visualising the sensory pleasures of this place.
Absorbing it all.
Embodying this whole place.
Allowing it to be you.
To be your body.
All the while keeping with your breathing.
And now begin to visualise the surroundings.
Perhaps the trees.
Perhaps the life.
Perhaps the flowers.
Maybe the water.
Noticing each thing with clarity.
Noticing each thing with a beginner's mind.
And just noting how all things live around each other.
And are weaved through each other.
But each has their own way of being.
Each has their own way of seeing.
The trees might see something from above.
The animals might see something from below.
And neither is wrong.
They're just operating through a different vantage point.
And with this just noting how you too can be different from somebody else.
You can have a different opinion from somebody else.
It doesn't need to derail you or ruin you or define you.
It can exist alongside you.
But you get to decide if it matters.
And I just want to now gently invite you to repeat some affirmations.
Perhaps out loud or in your head.
I choose my own happiness over pleasing others.
I choose my own happiness over pleasing others.
My mistakes do not define me.
My mistakes do not define me.
I release the need for outside validation.
I release the need for outside validation.
My voice is worthy.
My voice is worthy.
My opinions are valid.
My opinions are valid.
I'm just allowing those words to resonate within you.
And remembering that everybody will have an opinion.
A perspective.
Neither is right or wrong but you get to decide how that shapes you.
Or affects you.
Begin to imagine a golden ball of light forming in your heart space.
Visualising this ball of light in your heart space expanding.
Shining and expanding outwards.
Growing.
Brightening as it gets bigger and expanding outwards.
So much that it covers your whole being.
Allowing this light to be a physical reminder and boundary for you.
Allowing you to move through the world without taking on others opinions.
Without letting others opinions dim your light.
And remembering that nothing people do is because of you.
It is a reflection of themselves.
And when you feel ready just begin to open your eyes gently and come back to this space.
May you move with ease and self assurance in who you are throughout the rest of your day.
Thank you for practicing today.
With love,
Rachel.
