Hello weekenders.
It is again another Saturday morning, and with that, I send you a brand-new free meditation practice, from my heart to your heart.
Today, in alignment with my meditation theme self-compassion, I have spent the morning walking, contemplating courage and what it means to live with courage and self-compassion.
My property Sugarloaf Cottage here in the Snowy Mountains Australia is my sanctum, my healer, my teacher, my canvas and my little Shangri-la for protecting the native wildlife. On my morning walk, I tripped over a myriad of emotions, recognising all the ways in which I am being called to be clear, assertive, courageous and self-compassionate right now.
I am being called to be clear on my boundaries, to be assertive when my boundaries are crossed, to be courageous when needing to make hard decisions and to be self-compassionate if I don’t get it right.
Yes; by all means, it is important to extend kindness in every way we can. But truth is, we are not responsible for how others feel or for protecting another's feelings if it wreaks havoc with our own state of mind. Whilst it is best to be kind always, we can't be kind at the expense of our own well-being.
Lately, the universe keeps reminding me that I need to treat myself with the same compassion I give to those who choose to treat me badly. I am learning that to treat myself with compassion I must make hard decisions and get clear on my boundaries – which also means some people will not like my decisions or even like me.
It's not about becoming hardened and indifferent to protect ourselves. Instead, it’s about finding a balance between softness and hardness. It’s about being clear, positively assertive, having self-trust and most importantly having self-compassion.
To get clear on our boundaries, we must be brave enough to pause, tune in and define what matters most to us.
Because with the pause comes an opportunity to self-reflect, evaluate, understand, and try again.
Try again to be... Better. Kinder. More aligned to our values.
Making time to pause is how we cultivate boundaries. This is how we learn to treat ourselves and others better and kinder. This is how we evolve and heal and create transformation and change.
But none of that happens if we are not brave enough to take the pause and go inward.
Will slowing down in order to fully show up evoke vulnerability? For sure.
Can it be uncomfortable? Absolutely.
Is it painful? Sometimes, and very much so, yes.
The courage to pause and show up. That is where it starts.
The meditation I wrote and recorded for you this weekend is a breath-focused practice that invites you to take the pause. So, this weekend I invite you to pull up a chair and join me on the journey.
Nurture your body, tend to your heart, balance your emotions, find strength, find stillness, and get clear on what matters to you.
Take a pause to extend a little self-compassion to yourself, for your past mistakes, your hurts, and your regrets.
A pause to sit up tall, to anchor in the breath, a pause that allows you to respond from a kind, balanced and authentic place, rather than just react.
A pause that will create enough space within so that you can get clear on your boundaries. A pause that calms the emotions when needing to become assertive in saying "no" or communicating your boundaries. Most importantly, a pause that creates a soft place to land for a little self-compassion if you don’t always get it right.
I love this quote from Brene Brown,
“Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.”
With this weekend letter, I write it with a full heart and send you my gratitude for allowing me a little space in your inbox, I also invite you to join me for the meditation practice "Compassionate Breathing" which will encourage cultivating strength and self-compassion.
Get your fill so that when you step out your front door this weekend you have the energy you need to be present and of service to others - in a kind yet strong manner.
The courage to show up, say what you mean and mean what you say. That is where it starts.
It starts with you.
And me too.
It then ends with a little self-compassion for the times when we don’t get it right.
See you on the meditation cushion
With gratitude
Claire
PS: This Sunday at 7 am my Yoga Nidra - A Garden Journey Meditation will be released. You can access it when it is released Here or over at Spotify, Apple Podcast, PodBean, YouTube
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