Hello and welcome,
I am Jerry,
I am a meditation and mindfulness coach.
I want to talk about something very close to my heart and this is about the power of self-awareness.
Let me ask you,
Have you ever held back an idea,
Stayed silent or played small because you were afraid of being judged?
If yes,
Then you are not alone.
In fact,
In my travels and professional interactions,
I have encountered countless people with brilliant ideas and incredible potential.
Yet one recurring theme always stood out.
The need for validation often held quite a few of them back.
It was as if they were waiting for permission to be truly themselves.
Now this need can cripple us,
Keeping us from realizing our true capabilities.
Whether it's the fear of failure,
The fear of not sounding correct or the anxiety of being judged,
These fears can stop us from thinking freely,
Innovating or pursuing bold ideas.
In fact,
I have personally experienced this too,
The fear of failure and the anxiety of being judged.
And it can feel overwhelming at times.
But through my mindfulness practices,
I have come to understand a very simple truth and that is that only I can define my worth.
In this talk,
We will explore how the need for validation impacts our confidence,
Creativity and the ability to dream boldly.
I will also share how mindfulness can help us break free from this cycle,
Allowing us to anchor in our true intrinsic worth.
But before we begin,
Take a moment to reflect,
What would life look like if you stopped seeking validation?
Let that thought settle as we delve into this together.
How often do we let the fear of rejection,
Which could be say a simple no or a raised eyebrow,
Shrink our ideas?
This fear leads many of us to dilute our originality and in some cases,
Stop dreaming altogether.
What's most concerning is how deeply we internalize rejection.
We often interpret the rejection of an idea as a rejection of ourselves.
Have you ever felt that way?
This tendency to tie our self-worth to external approval,
It traps us in a cycle of seeking validation,
Making our confidence and creativity dependent on others' opinions.
But here's a powerful question to consider,
Are we truly so fragile,
So insignificant that someone else's opinion,
No matter who they are,
Has the power to define our worth?
And the truth is,
We are not.
We are vast,
Complex beings with infinite potential and those who rise above this fear and dare to act independently of external approval,
Often experience something extraordinary.
They uncover a profound sense of self-worth,
One that isn't tied to validation,
But comes from within.
In fact,
One of the most transformative insights I have gained through mindfulness is the beauty of self-awareness.
It's a quiet but powerful realization.
Only you can truly know your worth.
Look at it,
No one else has walked in your shoes,
Lived your journey,
Or fully grasped the depth of your being.
Take a deep breath and let this idea sink in,
Your worth is not tied to anyone else's opinion.
This realization is liberating,
It frees us from the need for external validation to feel whole.
When you stop measuring your value by others' opinions,
You create space for genuine growth.
Mindfulness teaches us to observe our thoughts and feelings without judgment.
It helps us see our fears,
The fear of failure,
Rejection or judgment,
Not as barriers but as stepping stones.
When you approach life from a place of self-awareness,
You can embrace failure as a part of the process,
Not as a verdict on your worth.
Pause for a moment and reflect,
What would you do if you weren't afraid of being judged?
When you are truly yourself and anchor your worth internally,
You open the door to realizing your true potential.
You no longer live at the mercy of others' judgments,
Instead,
You stand rooted in the knowledge of your unique capabilities.
As you go about your day-to-day,
Notice when you are seeking external validation,
And when you realize it,
Ask yourself,
Do I really need this approval or can I trust in my own worth?
These small moments of awareness can lead to profound shifts.
This journey of self-awareness isn't always easy,
But it is deeply rewarding.
When you release the need for validation and live from your intrinsic worth,
You experience a profound sense of freedom.
Let us strive to live in this space of intrinsic worth,
Unshaken by rejection.
And unburdened by the need for approval.
And only then can we truly soar.
Thank you for listening.
