“For a while I looked outside to see what I could make the world give me, instead of looking inside to see what was there.” ― Belle Livingstone
One of the things we love about producing this blog is the opportunity it gives us to think and reflect. We chew over current events or things that have happened in our life, and we ask “why?” “Why do things happen?” “Why do we respond to events in the way we do?” We then ask each other “What can we do about it?” When we come up with an answer we humbly share it here with you.
Recently we have been discussing how negative the world appears to be. The news is full of stories about corruption and wrong doing. There is a huge level of dissatisfaction in many professions and a constant mantra that there is not enough; staff, money, time, recognition, job-satisfaction. There is a pervasive feeling of negativity and fear that infects everything.
Leading on from this we asked – “How can we possibly thrive and be happy, or even function, in such a situation?”
Sobering thoughts!
It took us some time, but we have realised that in fact, what is happening externally is irrelevant, we have everything that we need with us all along, and perhaps all we need to do is look within
When we look externally for validation, approval, happiness or success we make ourselves powerless because we have no control over the things such as another person’s opinion, they are external to us. If we need the approval of others to confirm our worth then our self-worth depends on them and not us.
If instead, we focus on what is going on for us, if we look a little deeper into what we believe about ourselves and why, then we will have a better understanding of our thoughts feelings and behaviours. When we come to understand why we believe the things we do about ourselves. We recognise when fear has contaminated our responses.
When our thoughts feelings and behaviours become conscious, then we can choose to positively affect them. We can challenge negative thoughts and distorted patterns of thinking, we can promote positive body chemistry and we can choose positive appropriate actions.
If our responses have highlighted an underlying negative core belief, we can choose to reframe this into a truth.
In short we have everything that we need when we look within.
We have everything that we need right here. We have all the information and knowledge required, we know all of our fears and shame, our hopes and dreams.
We are the person absolutely best placed to stand up for us.
We are the only being who will never leave, and we are always there when we need something.
This week we share a meditation designed to empower and bolster self-worth – look within wild human, look within.
Try This:
Sit in a comfortable position with your spine straight
Allow yourself to come completely into the present moment
The sounds in the room
The sensations in your body
Allow them to become a part of your experience now
Close your eyes
And take your awareness to your breathing
Notice it’s tidal quality
Connecting you with all of nature
Every breathing living thing
And all of the cycles
Of our existence
The turning from day to night
And night to day
The waxing and waning of the moon
The tides of the sea
And the changing of the seasons
From Winter to Spring
Spring to Summer
Summer to Autumn
And Autumn to Winter again
Settle into you deep resounding rhythms
And allow the breath to deepen and lengthen
As you begin to experience
A letting go
Since the beginning of your time
Here on Earth
‘Wild human’
You have been travelling
Crossing flower scattered meadows
Wading through green rivers
Climbing towards high summits
And picking your way through deep forests
In search of
That which you need
Along the way
You have seen both wonderful
And terrible things
You have weathered great storms
And enjoyed warm balmy evenings
You have seen every sunrise
And every sunset
You have learned about the world around you
What to steer clear of
And how to behave
Your boots are weathered and worn
And your maps have been folded and unfolded many times
You are a seasoned voyager
And much of the way is familiar now
As you advance forward in your quest
To collect those things
That you need
The tools that will make it easier to travel
And the things that will make you feel complete
But today is a good day to rest
After all you have been travelling a while
It is a good day to pause
And to reflect
And so you find a suitable place
Way up in the mountains
By the river
Where the air is pure and clear
And you can see all the way to the summit
A lone tree stands firm on the bank
And you spread your well used blanket
Over its wide roots
and settle
Allowing your body
To rest up against its broad trunk
You close your eyes
And take in the scent of mountain herbs
And allow your thoughts to dissolve
As you drift into total bliss
Over time thoughts begin to arise again
As thoughts always do
And you find yourself musing about your quest
“What is it that I am seeking?”
“What do I need?”
“What direction should I take next?”
Better relationships?
More knowledge?
Possessions?
Property?
Status?
More confidence?
Time management skills?
Better communication?
Assertiveness?
Healthy boundaries?
Increased self- worth?
What things come up for you here as you ask these?
As you ponder your responses
You are suddenly aware of your comfortable resting position
You notice at once that you cannot feel the knots in the tree trunk
Pressing into your back
It is as if there is a soft cushion separating you from the bark
So you turn around to discover what is there
And to your astonishment
You see that it is a bag
A large spacious bag
made of the most beautifully coloured silk
That you have ever seen
And so light
That you had no idea of its presence
You must have been carrying it all this time!
So you slip your arms from the straps and examine it further
And you dive your hands into its opening
Excitedly, in search of its contents
Carefully and in wonder
You begin to pull out
Treasure after treasure
First a beautifully crafted bow made from yew
And a perfect arrow with a fine flint head
For pure, clear intention
Next you pull out a wide iridescent shield
Made from finest metal and leather
And light as a feather
For protection and courage
Next, a piece of pure white chalk
For drawing a distinct boundary circle around yourself
And now fine silver needles and golden thread
For suturing cuts and lacerations
Perfect scented bunches of herbs
To heal your wounds
Scented oils and balms
To soothe your pain
Crystal bowls
To collect and hold your tears
In fact
Contained within your bag
Is all of the medicine that you have ever needed
Self-worth
Appreciation of your wholeness
Confidence
Instinct and intuition
Nurture
Comfort
Acceptance
Defence
Protection
Courage
Strength
Healing
Birthing
The power to know when and how let go
The power to ease suffering
Self- expression
Silence
Stillness
Creativity
Imagination
Conscious choice
And it has been here with you all along
Since the very start
As you lay the contents of your bag on your blanket
You begin to see also your own unique, precious gifts
Glinting as the sunlight touches them
You greet them like old friends
Touching and handling them
With newfound appreciation
You have seen them before in full use
And the joy and benefits that they have brought to others
They are yours to own
And it is time that you made full use of them for yourself
You are, after all, the one who is most worthy of their benefits
As you begin to understand this truth
You are filled with warmth and gratitude
For your ‘Wild Human’ Self
And all of the medicine and gifts that you carry
In your beautiful bag
That is light as a feather
And always with you
You only need to reach inside it
To know that what you seek
Has been here all along
Read our book for more insights on ‘How to Rise’