Living Authentically

Meditation is an opportunity to practice authenticity and vulnerability with ourselves. We are allowing all parts of ourselves to show up, just as they are, accepting the thoughts, feelings, and sensations that arise to be acknowledged with kindness and acceptance. And this encourages us to show up in the world authentically as well. As we show up authentically, we naturally wanna support and encourage others to do the same. Becoming more authentic also involves clarifying our values, getting really clear on what's most important to us. Identifying values like community, kindness, sustainability, and fairness. It can be difficult to access authenticity when we feel fear or uncertainty about how we'll be received. Mindfulness allows us to ride the waves of fear and uncertainty by building our awareness of it, and strengthening our capacity to be with it as it is without compromising our authentic selves. Getting clear on what we value, and acting in accordance with our values is another way to strengthen our authenticity. This gives us the courage to act in alignment with our values, even when we're risking criticism or rejection. Meditation is like the lab where we try out these new accepting attitudes toward ourselves. Life off the cushion is where we apply the attitudes toward ourselves and others when difficult feelings arise, or when we feel compelled to shrink ourselves instead of showing up authentically. When we show up to our meditation, we're giving ourselves the inner security and confidence to show up in the world more authentically. We are creating the conditions for inner safety. Accepting what arises can be difficult. It's important to acknowledge your progress through the small steps that are helping you to greet yourself with more kindness, compassion, and acceptance. Let's start by finding a comfortable seated, or lying down position, and you can close your eyes or leave them open. Just resting your gaze softly on a spot in front of you. And take a moment just to allow yourself to land here. Letting go of what you were doing before, or what you have to do later, and just inviting your whole self to arrive. And we'll take a moment just to feel the points of contact between your body and the surfaces that they're resting on. So starting with your feet, just feel where your feet are resting, and making contact with the floor. And then feel the support of the chair or the ground underneath you holding you up. And then notice where your hands are making contact with your legs or the floor. Maybe you notice warmth or coolness in the hands. Just noticing that point of contact. And we'll just take a few slower deeper breaths in and out of our nose. Feeling your abdomen and your chest expand as you inhale, and feeling them deflate as you exhale. And then see if you can allow your breath to be natural and easy, just letting go of any effort, and notice how your natural...