Grow tall in the spine and begin today by taking a few deep breaths and settling into the body.
Start to leave the world outside as you blink the eyes closed and turn your focus inward.
This time is for you and this time is important.
Take a few deeper breaths,
Breathing in the thought that this time is for me,
Breathing in that this time is important,
And feel that tall spine and soft body.
Feel the breath moving up and down the energy centers.
There's nowhere else to be,
Nothing else to do.
And if the mind tries to distract,
Just acknowledge the thought as a distraction and simply redirect your focus back to your breath and back to your meditation.
You can thank the mind for working so hard,
But remind it that now is a time to pause.
Distractions are a normal part of practice and turning your focus back to meditation is a way to strengthen your practice,
To practice returning to that inward focus.
As your mind slows that constant stream of thoughts and begins to clear,
Allow it now to consider your daily life from a distanced,
Zoomed-out view.
The busy day-to-day of life and all of the balls you juggle and people with whom you interact.
See yourself balancing all that you do.
And what expectations are there of you each and every day?
How many expectations are you juggling?
And how many of those expectations feel more like obligations?
We all play so many different roles and have so many responsibilities.
Maybe you are a parent,
A spouse,
A sibling,
You might still be someone else's child or grandchild,
A cousin,
A friend,
An employee,
A supervisor,
A role model,
A volunteer,
A leader,
A church member,
A caregiver,
A neighbor.
Each job,
Each role has different expectations added and layered on top.
And all the people in our lives have expectations of us.
And how do we feel about and respond to these expectations?
Do we accept them all with a smile?
Adding them to our plate no matter how full it already may be?
Do we accept them but resent them?
And does that impact the person that they see,
The person that we are?
The person who is trying to meet the expectation of others?
And because of the juggling of roles and expectations,
Is everyone seeing the same you?
Does everyone see and know you?
The real you,
The true you,
And the best you?
And do you know the real you,
The true you,
And the best you?
Consider the expectations you have and have put on yourself.
Are they fair expectations?
Are they reasonable expectations?
Would you set the same expectations for others?
Pause for a few breaths to consider the pressure you might be placing on yourself.
And as we think about our different roles,
Do you sometimes feel like you're wearing a mask?
That you put on a smile and live up to their expectations so that they are happy?
Even potentially to your own detriment?
Do you feel obligated to always live up to the expectations of others?
Do you set yourself up to try and meet expectations that are simply unreasonable?
Come back for a few moments to the breath.
Slow inhales,
Slow exhales.
Feel the breath flowing in and out.
Knowing that your breath is yours.
And your life is yours.
How many different masks do you wear?
Masks created by the expectations of others?
The you that you think they want to see?
Masks created by the expectations of others?
The you that you think they want to see?
And allow the mind's eye to bring forward one specific role that you play in life.
See yourself in that role and what you maybe look like in that mask.
What features does it have?
How often do you wear it?
How many people know this version of you?
How closely does it resemble the you you truly are?
How hard is it to keep wearing that mask?
How heavy is it?
See yourself moving throughout your day in this mask.
What are your behaviors?
Your attitudes?
And what are you covering with the mask?
Imagine now the people who see this mask,
This version of you.
What would they think if you took the mask off?
What if they saw the real you?
What would that look like and be like for them and also for you?
Why do you choose to not let them see this real you?
Are there certain expectations?
Are there certain expectations they have of you that are too heavy for you to continue to carry and to live up to?
And so you put on a mask to do your best,
To show them what you think they want to see.
What if they knew how you felt?
Could you tell them?
Consider how much of your time is spent switching masks compared to the time spent just as yourself.
Time with yourself,
As yourself,
Pursuing the goals and desires that you have.
What if you approached the same roles without all the expectations?
Consider how you might feel if you moved throughout the day,
The week,
The month,
And the year focused on being the real you in each of your roles.
It's not that you don't want those roles or want to do your best.
It's that you want to be authentic in them and not let your best effort be overwhelmed by the weight of others' expectations of who you should be.
It's not that you want to let people down,
But it is about embracing that the most important person to not disappoint is yourself and being clear about what you can and cannot do allows you to perform your best,
To be your best,
No matter the role.
If you are living your authentic life,
Everyone benefits.
It's your life.
Be your authentic self.
Take care of you.
It's not selfish.
It's not selfish.
And consider as well,
You might even be more successful in all of your roles if you are unburdened,
Not expending energy,
Switching masks,
And continuing to hold up heavy masks that aren't a fit.
And spend a few breaths inhaling deeply the opportunity of approaching your roles with this fresh perspective.
See yourself in each role and what changes you might need to make,
Including the relationship you have with yourself,
The expectations you have set for yourself,
And see the benefit it could bring not just to your own life,
But to those around you as well.
If you are happier and healthier,
Your family and friends and coworkers will receive a better version of you as well.
Inhale in the power of showing and being your authentic self.
Bring this sense of empowerment with you as we start to come back to the physical world,
Coming back to the focus on the breath,
Feeling the breath again,
Moving in and out of the body,
Up and down the energy centers,
Feeling the length and space in the spine,
The softness of the body,
Maybe adding some gentle movement,
Fingers,
Toes,
And only ever as you're ready,
Coming back to rejoin the world by opening the arms.
Thank you very much for joining me today.
Namaste.
