TALK + MEDITATION: CREATING AN INNER SELF THAT FEELS LIKE A SOFT PLACE TO LAND
In the midst of this social isolation, many of us are being challenged to sit with the deep + true nature of our inner selves - our selves that are free from distraction.
So, what happens if turning inward doesn’t feel like a soft place to land? What happens if the self we are confronted with is filled with negative self-talk and destructive beliefs about our own worthiness? What happens if when we are confronted with our own being-ness and our own human-ness, we don’t like what see?
When you examine your beliefs about your body, your mind, your skin colour, your culture, your sexuality, your relationship status, your financial status, your gender identity, your education level, your career, your religion or your appearance, what is the first word that comes to mind? What negative belief have you absorbed from society that it feels like it’s part of you?
what barriers have you created between YOU, and opportunity, because of this harmful of self-discouraging belief?
What career, what dream, what vision, have you suffocated, because you believe that you wouldn’t get it anyways?
What pattern have you stayed stuck in, because you believe you are too brown or too white, not brown enough, not white enough, not dark enough, not light enough, too feminine, too masculine, too damaged, too broken, too gay, too straight, too heavy, too slender, not smart enough, not educated enough, not experienced enough, not rich enough?
When we’ve absorbed harmful and damaging messaging from a society rooted in inequitable power dynamics, we can begin to believe that unconscious biases of others are part of our identity. Shame can begin to feel like a permanent part of our identity.
When we’re waging war on ourselves, how do we shift our narrative to create an inner world that feels safe and inviting? How do we build our own internal refuge of love, worthiness, and self-compassion?
JOURNALLING QUESTIONS:
What beliefs am I holding about my skin colour, my ethnicity, my religion, my culture, my family or my heritage that feels like an internal minefield?
What beliefs am I holding about my gender identity, my sexuality, my relationship status, my relationship history, or my relationship potential that feels like an internal minefield?
What beliefs am I holding about my education level, my career, my accomplishments, my socioeconomic status, or my title, that feels like an internal minefield?
If I were to choose ONE deep belief that makes me feel like my inner world isn’t a home that I want to come home to, what would it be? Where did it originate? Has this harmful belief been passed down from generations? Did I hear these words repeated to me from family, friends or partners?
Five people who nurture my capacity to build my own inner home, who support me in building my inner world as a safe and authentic place to land are: ____
Five daily practices that feel supportive of my inner exploration of self-love and self-worth are: ___