I recently attended an Esoteric ‘Well-being for Women’ group. These groups run worldwide and are designed to support women to re-connect to what we know to be true and to live from this quality in everyday life. We discussed something that is often considered the ‘norm’: the thoughts we allow, that can become an inner conversation.
Does this support or hinder us and why do we allow it?
At times I can hear words in my head that would have me believe I am lacking in some way. These words can be harsh, belittling and critical. If I were to hear a child talk about themselves in the same way, I would consider it untrue and completely unnecessary. If I hear a friend talk in this way, I gently remind them of all they are and all they bring to our world. I am learning to do this more and more with myself. It can be easy to concentrate on all that appears not enough, when in fact we are enough! We have everything we need with us in every moment.
Denying ourselves and our magnificence serves no purpose.
At times I choose to connect to my innate knowing and appreciation of myself. These moments help to hold me steady in my day, they confirm deep down what I already know, that it is not about what we look like or what we achieve, it is about how we are with ourselves and others.
Why then, as women, do we allow the negative commentary?
It can provide an issue, a distraction, and perhaps even makes us fit into what the ‘norm’ can be. It is often a part of everyday life to hear people make throwaway comments about themselves and others that negate the truth of who we are.
What does it feel like when we don’t negate who we are, but accept and appreciate in full instead?
In the moments where I deeply appreciate myself it feels like a self-sustaining feedback system that replenishes me, and leaves me feeling more of myself, more able to get on with life and more able to support others. The self-bashing leaves me feeling the opposite: drained, tired and like I need to escape, or to shut myself away from people.
What I know today is that we are able to choose and be honest with ourselves when the thoughts pop in. We can say ‘those thoughts do not support me’ and come back to the appreciation of all that we are. We can share openly when we feel amazing and this can inspire others to do the same.
Is there more on offer, more to connect to within ourselves?
What if the things we criticise are areas that we feel we could bring more to? What if, when we criticise the way we look, it’s because who we see or how we feel in that moment isn’t a true representation of all we know ourselves to be?
What if our body shows us an end result of a multitude of choices, and what if instead of continuing the cycle of self-critique, we appreciate that we can choose differently from that moment forwards?
Every breath we take and every next step can be one of appreciation to build from or one of reducing ourselves back into an issue that we may not truly have.
As women let’s celebrate who we are, celebrate what each of us brings and continue to build a foundation of self worth, deep knowing and appreciating in full, all of our qualities.
By Michelle, Cornwall, UK
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Is there a way to deepen our appreciation of ourselves, by building a connection to our body and what we’re feeling? Cherise’s blog on celebrating the woman within.
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