Easing self-doubt and not feeling good enough.
Are there days when your mind simply won’t shut up?
Do you get stuck in your head and start to doubt yourself?
Are your thoughts often racing so much it’s hard to keep up?
When your thoughts start to race your well-being shifts, and the scales tip towards fight-flight (your activation, high-alert mode) and it can feel like brain gremlins that have taken up residence in your head! Self-doubt and that familiar feeling of not being good enough can be hard to switch off, they can make you feel anxious and disconnected which are feelings I know all too well.
The thoughts you have, especially self-critical and self-doubting ones, play havoc with your well-being changing how you breathe, and the way you behave and impacting your mood. You’ve probably noticed how your breath gets faster, your chest feels tight and your stomach might tie up in knots. These physical changes in your body are reactions to your thoughts; your body wants to protect you from them… Sounds mad, right but it’s true.
That feeling of your chest tightening can be caused by your breathing becoming faster and shorter; because you’re not breathing as deeply your breath is high up in your chest creating tension.
Slow down the way you are breathing and draw your breath deeper, so you can take fuller breaths. Focus on drawing your exhale out slowly and you can help to ease the tightness in your chest whilst clearing your head.
You don’t enjoy criticism so why are you so good at being super critical of yourself?
Feeling crappy about yourself can feel like you’ve got a black cloud hanging over your head. Your spirit is dampened and it’s like your spark has gone out.
Changing the way you’re thinking isn’t easy when you’re caught up in your head, however, changing the way you’re breathing helps shift your focus and calm your nervous system. This helps you think more clearly and brings you back into the present moment; dropping out of your head and reconnecting to your body.
I remember going to a yoga class after a horrifically bad day at work, it had been a choice between a bottle of red wine with a bar of Lindt chocolate or yoga; I knew what would be easiest and I knew what would help me feel better, but they weren’t the same thing.
Although that class was challenging in many ways, I remember being focused and aware of my body and how I was breathing which helped me get out of my head. At the end of the class, I lay in Savasana (the relaxation at the end of a yoga class) and cried. I hadn’t thought about my experience at work for over an hour. I felt calmer and less stressed; something had shifted. I was no longer ready to fight the world or hide under my duvet.
Have you ever experienced this shift for yourself?
The magical combination of mindfulness and movement not only supports a gradual shift to your parasympathetic nervous system, (rest + digest) and a calm state of being, it helps to cultivate patience and self-compassion, encouraging the ultimate good vibe; self-love!
Not only is this 100% true for me but I know it can be true for you too because it’s happening in our Big Love Yoga Community.
I’ve asked two members if I could share their experiences with you…
“I like the fact that as anxious as I feel, as soon as I’ve done a yoga class I feel like I can breathe and I can take on anything. It gets me out of my head and into my body. And makes me more mindful of everything.”
“I just wanted to say thank you, I am really glad I joined in last night because I have been ill lately, there’s been lots of change going on and anxiety. I set myself up for the me-zone, I was very conscious about what was going on… It evoked some kind of spark in me, a confidence boost from within as if something had switched on! That session gave me the grounding and the knowing I am good at what I do and I started getting excited again!”
In our modern world, it’s almost too easy to find a reason to doubt yourself and feel like you’re not good enough. There’s so much to compare yourself to, so much to aspire to and dream of that sometimes you need to step back, drop from your head into your body and hit the reset button; breathe space and love into your body, move it to free up the tension those thoughts have created and reconnect to yourself.
I've studied Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction techniques, Yoga for Anxiety, Depression and Post-Traumatic Growth, all because I was fascinated by how these ancient practices were able to support and soothe me even on the days I wanted to lie in a heap on the floor.
I got a double DD (certainly not my bra size) in Science for my GSCE, yet in my thirties, I found myself geeking out on the science behind the spiritual practices and rituals I’ve woven into my life and have a deep desire to share.
Self-doubt is sadly one of the effects of living in our beautifully busy and modern world, however finding ways to drop from your head and back into your body with breath, movement and mindfulness can help to shift your mindset.
Are you curious to experience the effects for yourself?
If so, here are 3 ways you can my friend…
Book a free taster session in The Big Love Yoga Community and practise yoga LIVE from the comfort of your home with confidence.
Set up your sanctuary at home and book yourself in for some Deep Rest: Yoga Nidra Mindfulness + Intention Visioning happening this Sunday 20th November and every month through to early 2023!
Pop the kettle on and chat over a Virtual Cuppa with me about working together One-To-One from £45…
Remember, different day call for different tools, take care of yourself first, my friend.
I am sending big love and gratitude to you, and I hope to see you soon,
Becki
xoxo