May 2022 – Rooting to Rise

Mantra Motivation ~

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment,” Ralph Waldo Emerson

I began this Sunday’s Slow Flow yoga class with a mantra card. This week’s Mantra is, I need only My Own Validation in this life.

In the opening quote, Ralph Waldo Emerson refers to the difficulty of being solely satisfied with just our own validation. Feeling fulfilled by our own validation allows us to truly know who we are, what we like, and what we want to do.

At an early age we learn that pleasing others creates a form of acceptance and this is what we begin to place our value in.

What does it mean to Validate yourself?

Self Validation is being understanding to our own personal thoughts, emotions, and actions, and then accepting of our own internal experiences. This doesn’t mean that we insist that we are justified or correct in all we think and do, it means that we are allowing ourselves to be empathetic to our personal circumstances. We have a much easier time doing this for others, but when it comes to ourselves we become way more judgmental and look for outside sources to make us feel that we have value.

It’s so important to understand that no one, not even your parents are qualified to add value to your life- your mind, your body- or your soul. You are born with value. Seeking value outside of yourself makes you feel small and no matter how many compliments, “Great Job”- “Way to Go”- or trophies, certificates, or degrees you receive, it will NEVER be enough to fill you up with validation. Only You are able to give yourself acceptance, empathy, love…. Value.

So, for this week pay attention to how many times you are yearning, seeking, or asking for someone, or maybe something to make you feel valued.

Then each morning find a quiet space, focus on your breath as you breathe in… and out, and repeat to yourself, “I only need my own validation in this life.”

Much love to you.

Maureen

Comfortable- Cozy- Safe- Loved- Welcomed

These are words we usually say when we are feeling “At Home” in a particular place.

But, what about feeling “At Home” in your Body?

Do these same words, Comfortable- Cozy- Safe- Loved- and Welcomed evoke that sense of “At Home” when you think about being in your body?

I can personally attest to a time that my body was not a comfortable, safe place where I felt welcomed and loved. In fact I still have times that this is still true.

The good news is, we can learn to feel At Home in our Body & our Mind. I’m not saying it’s easy, but absolutely possible.

We have so many stories – memories- emotions- experiences that we store not just in our mind but also in our body that make it difficult or even burdensome to feel At Home. Our mind keeps track of everything and attaches a meaning to each experience and sometimes those meanings land in a space within our body where it lives until we realize it’s there and work on releasing it.

We are meaning makers; this is how we try to make sense of our world. These meanings aren’t always an accurate account. They can be derived from different viewpoints that may not allow us to take in the full understanding of an event; possibly through a child’s eyes, or viewing through the eyes of a painful experience, or something that created a sense of anger.

One of the first steps toward learning to feel At Home is paying attention to how your body feels throughout the day.

Take a piece of paper and fold it in half. On one side write down any physical feelings you notice– if you have shoulder tension, or pain in your lower back or tight hamstrings. Tightness in your chest- throat or jaw. Maybe your arms feel heavy or you have a stomach ache.

On the other side, jot down your emotions as you go through your day (angry, surprised, sad, scared, lonely, peaceful).

When you notice an emotion rising, if you are able to stop what you are doing and turn your mind toward your body to sense if you have a physical feeling, that is a plus.

At the end of the day compare the two sides of the paper and notice if there are any connections between your emotions and physical feelings.

Learning to notice this connection is the first step to understanding the bigger picture of how our Mind & Body relate to one another, and also an act of love toward ourselves for creating an “At Home” space where you can thrive and align with wonderfully, beautifully You.

Stop back next week for another step toward feeling At Home in your Body & Mind.

Live Well,

Maureen~

Mantra Motivation ~ Validation

Are You At Home