S1 Ep:17 Cultivating a Life of Self-Admiration and Growth #guidedmeditation

Crossing Bridges with Rae - The Podcast

Have you ever stood in front of a mirror, grappling with the reflection staring back at you? This episode is an intimate exploration of that very moment, not of vanity, but of understanding and embracing the worth that lies within. Join me, Rae, as we traverse the tender terrain of self-love, an invaluable ingredient for a life steeped in fulfillment and authenticity. Through heart-to-heart conversation and a specially designed guided meditation, we'll learn to breathe in compassion and exhale doubt, cultivating a sanctuary of self-acceptance within.

In the sanctity of our presence, we uncover the courage to affirm that self-care is an indisputable right, not a mere indulgence. We dissect the art of setting boundaries as a declaration of self-respect, and how upholding these boundaries nourishes healthy relationships. Our dialogue celebrates the power of personal growth, the strength in our voice, and the bravery in sharing our true selves. As we conclude, let the echoes of this episode serve as a reminder that we are each a mosaic of experiences, deserving of love and capable of greatness. Carry these revelations with you, and let them fortify the most important relationship you will ever have—the one with yourself.

Your journey matters and your voice will always be heard here, so be sure to share your thoughts, questions, and reflections with me on my interwebs...click my link below!

Thank you for joining me for another episode as we cross this bridge together!

So much Love,

Rae

Rae's Links...

koji.to/xoloverae

HIGHLIGHT:

(05:24 - 08:17) Meditation and Emotion Acknowledgement

CHAPTERS:

(00:03) Self-Love and Guided Meditation Importance

This chapter focuses on the vital importance of self-love, a theme I hold dear and consider essential for a fulfilling life. I emphasize that self-love is not about selfishness, but about recognizing and appreciating our inherent value, which in turn positively influences all aspects of life, including relationships and career. The chapter also introduces a guided self-love meditation designed to foster self-acceptance, self-admiration, and a gentle approach to personal emotions and affirmations. By practicing deep, intentional breathing and repeating self-affirming statements, we can cultivate a sense of self-worth and gratitude for our past, present, and future selves.

TRANSCRIPT:

(09:50) The Importance of Self-Care and Self-Love

This chapter is a gentle reminder that self-care is not selfishness, and it's okay to experience a range of emotions. We explore the importance of self-approval over others' approval, recognizing personal growth, and embracing self-love. I discuss the right to set boundaries and the expectation that they be respected, the power of our own voices, and the significance of sharing our feelings. The conversation affirms that everyone is worthy of forgiveness and that mistakes do not define us. We touch on the freedom of releasing ourselves from perceived obligations and choosing to surround ourselves with positive influences. Lastly, we highlight the unique value each person brings to the world simply by existing and encourage carrying feelings of self-love throughout the day.

00:03 - Rachel "Rae" Mindy (Host)

Hello, welcome, welcome, welcome. Welcome to another episode of Crossing Bridges with Ray. I am your host, ray, and, as I always do, thank you so much for being here. So today I wanted to. I wanted to share a meditation, but before I go into the meditation, I want to tell you how important it is to me. The meditation is a self love guided meditation that I'm going to share with you, but I really want to just expound on how self love is so important. Like I cannot, I cannot express how important self love is, and what I realize is that God is love and we individually are expected to love Him and to love ourselves, first and foremost Because what I've learned over time and over the years is that if we don't love ourselves, nothing works.

01:46

Nothing works Because we are sacrificing ourselves for other people, other circumstances, other you know, other experiences that don't really have anything to do with us, because we're not really counting ourselves. We're so enthralled in the outside that we're not placing the value on the inside, if that makes any sense. And so that goes along with everything. It goes along with relationships, it goes along with your career, your job, it goes along with, you know, your family, your children, your husband, your wife. It's just all encompassing and it has everything to do with you. And when you take yourself out of the equation, it's never a thing, and a lot of times, bad things happen when you take yourself out of the equation. In other words, you could possibly get taken advantage of. Abuse can take place, you know there's, you know, just being ignored. I can just go on and on, and so I feel like all of us, everyone in this world, need to put themselves first and learn to accept, forgive and love yourself, because when you put yourself first, everything else works. And I'm not talking about, I'm not talking about being selfish. I'm talking about being selfful and recognizing the enormous value that you have in this world and possibly in the lives of people that love you. So I wanted to record this as God in meditation because I really want to. I really really want to encourage self-acceptance, self-love, self-discovery, self-amoration. Yeah, because you are the most important person in your life. I'm going to say that one more time you are the most important person in your life, and so with that, let's begin a guided self-love meditation. Self-love is a practice. It can take time. Be very gentle with yourself If the affirmations don't feel authentic. Yet over time you will internalize them more.

05:24

As emotions come up in the course of this meditation, do your very best to acknowledge them non-judgmentally. Let your emotions like clouds passing by. Notice them, but let them pass. Begin by settling into a seated position. Make sure you feel comfortable. Now focus on your breathing. What does your breath feel like as it enters your nose and exits your mouth? So the breathing that I'm referring to is taking a deep breath in your nose, holding it at the top and then allowing the release to exit through your mouth and allow it to just go until you can't go anymore. That is a full, deep breath. So let's try it out. Breathe in through your nose, hold it at the top, and out through your mouth, and out through your nose, and out through your nose and out through your mouth. Keep breathing. Zoom out and notice how your entire body feels. Are you holding any tension? Notice how your shoulders, your back and your jaw feel. For many people, those areas tend to hold tension. So if, if, so, if, I invite you to release the tension. Just invite yourself to release it, you know. Let your shoulders fall and continue to breathe. Don't worry if your mind starts to wander. Just gently bring your attention back to your breath. It will help you to focus and the feeling of warmth and self-love as you continue to take slow, deep breaths. Now repeat the following self-love affirmations slowly, with warmth and gentleness towards yourself.

08:38

Rather than worry what others think, I choose to live my life for me, In every way. I am already enough. I choose to cultivate positive thoughts about myself. I am allowed to have needs and express them. I choose to be kind to myself. Rather than follow the expectations of others, I choose the path that's right for me. I love who I used to be, who I am and who I am becoming. When I look back on past versions of myself, I feel warmth and gratitude.

09:50

Taking time for self-care is not the same as being selfish. Sometimes I feel emotionally turbulent. That's okay. I allow myself to feel all feelings. My own approval is worth more than the approval of others. When I look at my life, it's incredible how much I've grown. I walk through the world feeling loved by myself and by others. I am allowed to set boundaries and expect others to follow them. My voice deserves to be heard and my feelings deserve to be shared. I am worthy of forgiveness. I choose to forgive myself. I notice what feels like an obligation in my life and I release myself. I choose to associate with people who make me feel better and allow those who do not to drift away. Although I've made mistakes, they do not define me. I have something of value to give to the world just by being me. When you are ready, open your eyes, notice how good you feel, bring these feelings of self-love with you throughout the day and remember whenever you need it, it's already inside of you. Now, where are your feelings?

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