Welcome to day four of the seven day challenge to reclaim your balance.
You're over halfway through now and today we'll be focusing on being kind to yourself.
So let's begin in the usual way by finding that quiet and comfortable place where you can fully relax and let go.
So settle yourself either in a seated position or lying down,
Whichever feels best for you.
And then when you're ready,
Gently close your eyes and connect to your breath.
Take a nice slow breath in through the nose and then exhale really softly either through the nose or through the mouth,
Whatever feels best for you.
As you breathe,
Feel your body feeling heavier,
More grounded and with every breath,
Just allow yourself to sink deeper into the surface beneath you and into the present moment.
Let each exhale be a release,
A soft kind of letting go,
Letting go of any stress,
Any worries because this is your time,
Time to simply be.
This is your space to reconnect with yourself and to explore the importance of being kind to yourself.
This isn't a selfish thing.
This is love,
Compassion and the need to regain balance in your life.
So take another deep breath in and as you exhale,
Bring to mind a moment when you've felt really overwhelmed and perhaps this has led to you actually being really critical of yourself.
Maybe it's a time when you felt you weren't doing enough or didn't measure up or maybe a time when you just felt that everything was stacked against you.
Now in that moment,
I want you to ask yourself,
How did you speak to yourself?
Were your thoughts gentle and loving and compassionate or were they harsh and demanding?
We often hold ourselves to such high standards,
Far higher than we would for anybody else that we know.
But today,
Right here,
Right now,
You are invited to step back from those expectations that you place on yourself and to acknowledge that you are doing your best and it's okay to give yourself grace.
It's okay to do that.
Just as you would extend kindness to a friend,
You're now going to extend kindness to yourself.
So just imagine for me that a dear friend of yours came to you expressing the same worries,
The same doubts or self-criticism.
How would you respond to them?
What would you say?
How would you ease their burden,
Make them feel better?
How would you respond to them,
Reminding them of their own self-worth?
Just take a moment to notice the difference between the way you speak to yourself and the way you would speak to a friend.
Just allow yourself now to recognize that you are just as deserving of that same kindness,
That same love,
That same compassion.
The care you show to others is equally important to give to yourself now.
And you can see it,
That it is just as important to give yourself that love,
To be kind to yourself.
And this isn't a selfish act,
It is actually essential for your well-being in life.
It allows you to recharge,
To heal,
To grow.
When you nurture yourself,
You are better equipped to nurture others.
So this isn't a selfish thing,
This is the most selfless thing you can do.
So now take a deep breath in and as you exhale,
Imagine that you are filling your heart with warmth,
Love and compassion.
With each breath,
Feel that kindness expanding within you,
Filling every part of your body,
Every cell of your being.
Let it flow through you like a soft,
Gentle wave,
Soothing,
Reassuring,
Healing yourself.
And say to yourself now,
Either aloud or in your mind,
I am deserving of kindness.
I am kind to myself.
I am enough,
Just as I am.
I am deserving of kindness.
I am kind to myself.
I am enough,
Just as I am.
And feel the truth in those words now.
Let those words really settle within you,
Within your mind,
Within your heart and within your entire being.
Take a moment now just to fully embrace this feeling of self-compassion.
There's no need to rush.
There is no need to be anything other than who you are in this very moment.
I am deserving of kindness.
I am kind to myself.
I am enough,
Just as I am.
Often we feel guilty for taking time for ourselves,
Thinking that our responsibilities or the needs of others should always come before us.
But remember something,
You cannot pour any liquid from an empty cup.
Taking care of yourself is not taking away from anybody else.
In fact,
By prioritizing your own well-being,
You are ensuring that your cup is full.
And from that place of abundance,
You can then extend your resources to help others.
So gently remind yourself that kindness is not indulgence.
It is balance.
It is listening to your needs,
Honoring your needs.
It is giving yourself permission to rest when you're tired,
To say no when you need space and to forgive yourself when things don't go as planned.
You are worthy of care.
You are deserving of compassion.
And as you move forward into the rest of your day or your evening,
Remember to treat yourself with the same kindness you so easily give to others.
So take a nice deep breath and when you're ready,
Return yourself to this present moment with a renewed sense of peace,
Love and self-compassion.
Have a great rest of day.
