10:01

Listening Inwardly To The Tenderness

by Jaya Julienne Ashmore

Rated
4.7
Type
guided
Activity
Meditation
Suitable for
Everyone
Plays
3.1k

Listening inwardly- a quality of steadiness and receptivity that can unlock the heart and spirit. In this self compassion practice we ask ourselves, "How are you?," in the same way that a loving and respectful friend would ask us. Jaya guides us to unearth a friendly part of ourselves that can listen from a genuine, caring place and see ourselves with life's eyes. We will hear the humanness inside of us and listen through the entirety of the story we tell, right into the tenderness inside each feeling and train of thought. By tuning inwardly, we can rest in the simplicity and aliveness that is already here.

ListeningTendernessSteadinessReceptivitySelf CompassionHumannessSimplicityAlivenessBody AwarenessEmotional ExpressionNon Judgmental AwarenessAcceptanceInner Dialogue

Transcript

Allowing yourself some time to settle and derive,

Letting the body be comfortable if possible,

Feeling for a position of the body on the ground that would be most kind,

Most helpful towards depth of connection with aliveness.

Whether lying down or sitting or standing,

A chance to let the body nestle into the ground,

Letting the cells feel their gravity,

Letting the breath have a little more space.

And if we could imagine that someone who really cares about us,

Really cares about our genuine being and our genuine happiness.

If that person just simply asks us now,

How are you?

And we don't feel the need to cover up anything or to pretend.

Just inwardly that we are allowed to express.

And this person or this part of us is really listening,

Really seeing us with life's eyes,

Really hearing us deeply,

Whatever we feel needs to be expressed.

What comes up first and most easily,

And giving that some more space and some more space and some more space.

And also what else that doesn't come up so easily to our attention,

To our care.

And giving that some more space.

We could imagine this person or feel this place in ourselves that can really listen and care and yet not believe our story either,

Not add fuel to our fire.

Just listening.

And is still listening.

I feel tired or I feel shaky or excited or calm or I can't believe how much fear or hatred.

Or I was doing fine and then it started to rain or I am so happy.

I feel at home or there is something buzzing in my stomach and I don't know what it is or whatever.

Not telling the story that we think we are supposed to tell.

Not necessarily needing to tell a story if there is not one.

How are you?

And what else?

And what else?

Some more space may open out for what else is there.

And feeling our tenderness,

The inside of the story if there is a story.

How fearing or hating that person or that thing or that sound or that food or that thing about ourselves or whatever.

How that is tender inside us.

How it is painful and tight.

As if someone had taken our shoes and we are wearing shoes that are too small.

Just the pain of that too small mind or heart.

Or how there is just this lake of joy quietly reflecting the sky.

Or how there is both at the same time.

Fury and peace.

Just leaving some more space for it all.

Leaving some more time for it all to unfold,

To be met.

All of it,

Maybe.

Maybe it's okay,

Even when it's uncomfortable.

Maybe it's okay anyway.

Not the end of the world,

Maybe.

And that.

And if we hear ourselves saying as we listen to ourselves.

If it were not for the noise,

If it were not for the cold or the heat,

If it were not for having slept well or at all.

If it were not for whatever it may be.

Could we climb inside the story and feel the tenderness locked in it?

And just stay there for a while.

Just for a while.

The story.

Meet your Teacher

Jaya Julienne AshmoreCatalonia, Spain

4.7 (187)

Recent Reviews

Christine

October 21, 2025

Grateful for the nuance and depth of your guidance! I am able to stay engaged during practice because you offer many suggestions that help me to recognize what is here in my experience, as well as permission for my experience to be something besides what you have named.

Sue

May 12, 2023

Beautiful words to encourage a deep listening to our inner landscape with kindness and compassion

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© 2026 Jaya Julienne Ashmore. All rights reserved. All copyright in this work remains with the original creator. No part of this material may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

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