20/09/2021
â¨NEW MEDITATION LINK BELOWâ¨
Did you know that self-criticism actually weakens your immune response? Yup â a harsh inner voice can actually increase your risk of illness â as well as impair your mental and emotional wellbeing. We may sometimes find ourselves pressured by the groups weâre surrounded by and/or society we live in to find and fix our faults. Even if we gravitate toward nurturing a growth mindset, we may still find ourselves falling into the trap of self-criticism as we find things that we âmust/should changeâ.
Practicing self-compassion has benefits that extend beyond just feeling good about oneself. When we criticise ourselves, we activate the bodyâs threat response system which means our brains and bodies are on the lookout for looming danger thinking that something is going to interfere with our wellbeing. This threat response system, activates a number of hormones, which can have significant physical, mental and emotional impacts. When we are self-criticise, and threaten our self-identity and esteem, we create a situation where we are both the attacker, and the victim of the attack. When we focus on self-compassion, we deactivate that threat response, and instead tap into a system of care. In this state, hormones like endorphins and oxytocin are stimulated and buffer stress levels and improve feelings of calm and safety.
So todayâs meditation is focused on just that: self-compassion. A practice that seems so simple â and yet may not always be our autopilot inner-pilot response. Itâs a meditation that involves a lot of intentional verbal prompting and guided imagery â a way to assist the mind by staying busy and connected to whatâs being said. This may be especially useful during moments of low self-esteem or anxiety as it keeps the mind busy and reduces our tendency to ruminate on negativity in those states of being.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5FyRk47E5w&t=809s
As always, thoughts and feedback welcomed and appreciated.
Keep well, stay safe and may your mind be at ease.
Love & light.
Tyne x
The Living Practice
Did you know that self-criticism actually weakens your immune response? Yup â a harsh inner voice can actually increase your risk of illness â as well as imp...