Here’s Listening to You

When we are in a cycle of feeling unmotivated or stuck. If we are struggling to adapt to the new way we are living, or a new way of existing because of fatigue, often our harsh critical voice can be chiming in with extremely unhelpful contributions, making this a lot harder.

We really need to pay attention to our thought process, so we can challenge thoughts that are untrue. Find an acceptance for any thoughts which may be true but are causing us distress and notice when we may need to seek help if the thoughts are causing us significant distress.

If we feed into and believe that our thoughts are absolute truths, we begin to allow these self-sabotaging thoughts to have a huge impact on our lives and emotional states, leaving us feeling sad, depressed and even unworthy.

I always compare unnoticed thoughts to letting a toddler loose for hours unaccompanied, we all know that it would be chaos! (Lets be honest, a supervised toddler can be wild enough).

This week we begin to touch on awareness of thoughts, with a few prompts in the guided meditation and with the journaling exercise.

Meditation Practices

  • Self Reflection Meditation 3 x this week

  • Leaves on a Stream 3 x this week

This meditation can be practiced in any that is comfortable for you. If you are in a seated position, try to sit tall but not rigid. Often we can take ourselves a bit to seriously when we come into a seated meditation position - just come into a form where you feel supported and will not to be distracted by physical discomfort. There are no meditation rules that say you need to be seated on a cushion on the floor either, get into a chair if that works better for you.

Ideally, you should try not to move during a meditation, as it rediverts your attention onto something new. If you are feeling uncomfortable, take a breath and mindfully reposition yourself. You don’t want to be wriggling and adjusting the whole time as your mind will not be able to relax and sink into the meditation.

This short meditation can be practiced sitting in a chair. A great practice to help you start to notice your thoughts. I love to notice how different my thoughts are each time I do this, especially if I do it before and after a yoga session.

Journaling Exercise

Daily

I want you to journal and challenge 3 thoughts daily that are untrue, unhelpful, or unkind to yourself.  Then use one affirmations in the below list (or create your own) to combat it.

It could be accepting the thought, which does not mean you like it, you just accept that for right now this is your reality. Or it may be letting go of any tension you feel physically or mentally that come with that particular thought.

It can be handy to have a small journal (or use notes on your phone) to jot down any thoughts you would like to challenge throughout the day.

Always sign off each journaling session writing:

(Your Name) I love you, I really, really love you.

It will feel weird and probably unnatural when you first do it – but trust me, keep at it and before long it will seem natural and the more you do it, the more you will believe it!

  • I accept you

  • I am willing to let go

  • I release any fears

  • I release unnecessary anger

  • I release all tension

  • I release all sadness

  • I let go and I am at peace with myself

  • I am at peace with the process of life