【Headspace】The Journey of Self-Acceptance 文字稿

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Hi everyone, it's Rosie. Welcome to Radio Headspace and to Tuesday. So a few years ago, I found myself wandering through a dense forest in the Pacific Northwest, surrounded by towering trees and a gentle mist swirling through the air.

In that serene setting, I stumbled upon a hidden clearing filled with vibrant flowers in bloom. As I stood there taking in the beauty of nature, a subtle but undeniable realization washed over me. I began to reflect on my journey of self-acceptance. I noticed that, like those flowers, each with its unique shape, color and imperfections, the idea of self-acceptance is about honoring the beauty of our own uniqueness, without judgment or comparison.

If you listen to yesterday, you know that we're continuing to talk about self-acceptance, what it is, and techniques to help us tap into it. For me, the journey towards self-acceptance was not always smooth. There were moments when self-doubt cast its shadows when I felt like an imposture in my own skin and the weight of expectations threatened to consume me.

So today, I'm going to talk about one of those times and how I realize that self-acceptance is a journey, not a destination. When I first started teaching yoga and meditation, it was difficult standing in front of a classroom of people waiting for me to guide them. I'd practice countless times, yet the first time when faced with actual faces staring right at me, I froze. I stumbled all over my words and it took every fiber of my being to not run out of the room.

But deep down, I knew that running away was not an option. My training taught me to embrace the vulnerability I felt. So I started with acknowledging my emotions, fear, anxiety, and self-doubt. Then I remembered what had brought me to this moment. I studied, trained, and did the work. Yes, I had self-doubt, but I also held the knowledge to get the job done, and I accepted that both those thoughts can exist simultaneously.

From there, I felt a sense of clarity. The class started and nobody left. Nothing catastrophic happened. Afterwards, I had a deep sense of self-compassion, because even though I was scared, I still moved forward. Throughout the years, I've discovered that self-acceptance is not an endpoint, but a continuous journey. And self-acceptance requires nurturing and patience, much like tending to a garden. But how do we do this?

One way is to practice loving kindness. It sounds simple, but if you're not used to caring for yourself in this way, here are some tips to use loving kindness to start, or continue your journey to self-acceptance. Number one, set aside dedicated time each day to offer kind and compassionate thoughts to yourself. This can be done through a simple self-affirmation practice, where you repeat positive phrases such as, may I be happy, may I be healthy, may I be at peace, and remember the more you practice loving kindness, the more it becomes second nature.

Number two, extend loving kindness beyond yourself and offer it to others. You can do this by choosing a person in your life, such as a loved one, a friend, or even a stranger, and send them silent well-wishes. Even if they don't know you're sending these well-wishes, the sentiment can create a space for those kind feelings to blossom.

Number three, practice random acts of kindness throughout your day. Be mindful of opportunities to offer small gestures like holding the door for someone, complimenting a stranger, or offering assistance to those in need. By extending kindness to others, they create a ripple effect of positivity, and they foster a sense of connection and compassion.

And for more guidance on loving kindness, check out my dear friend Sam's loving kindness meditation in the app. That's all for today. To share your thoughts with me about this episode, head over to Instagram @ Rosie Costa.As always, thank you for letting me share, and thank you so much for listening. I'll see you back here soon.