Get ready to be inspired in just about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea (about 2 minutes)! And if you’ve got your feet up and that tea’s still hot, we’ve got a whole buffet of brilliance waiting for you on our menu.
A message from today’s meditation:
We often speak about “coping mechanisms” in a negative way because the truth is, these can turn into deeply ingrained habits, “bad habits” that hold us back and keep us from growing. And the next term that often follows coping mechanism is “self-sabotage”, and I vehemently rebel against this description! I object!
There is nothing within you, that has the desire to sabotage you…
… of course it can be true that we have old coping mechanisms that no longer serve us, that prevent growth. But we have to start with the understanding that our survival adaptations are designed to keep us alive, our old programming will do anything at all to provide us with a sense of being able to cope.
There was a time where your “coping mechanism” might have literally kept you alive and that needs to be honoured, not judged. This doesn’t negate the fact that things are going to have to change if you are to move forward. There might be really hard work ahead, but start with self-compassion, not self-hatred.
“Our survival adaptations are so tough, but our wounds are so delicate. To heal, we have to lift the armor carefully- it saved our lives, after all. It’s like moving your best friend off to the side of the path. You don’t trample on her, you don’t hit her with a sledgehammer. You honor her presence like a warm blanket that has kept you safe and sound during wintry times. And then, when the moment is right, you get inside and stitch your wounds with the thread of love, slowly and surely, not rushing to completion, nurturing as you weave, tender and true. The healing process has a heart of its own, moving at its own delicate pace. We are such wondrous weavers…” – Jeff Brown
“I am so tired of how hard we are on ourselves. Not attractive enough, not smart enough, not cool enough, not purpose-full enough, not spiritual enough, not flexible enough, not creative enough, not rich enough, not happy enough, not healthy enough, not sexy enough, not wise enough. It’s like a collective shame fest that begins when we are born and continues until we die. So much magnificent life is lost when it is swept under a mountain of shame. Billions of us walking around convinced we are not ‘something enough.’ We are missing the point. Just staying alive on this planet is a great achievement, demanding that we sift through all of the ‘not-enough’ inner chatter to find a reason to go on. How about if we begin every day with an ‘I am enough’ meditation? Let’s begin right now: I am enough! I am enough. I AM ENOUGH.” – Jeff Brown
“I bow to those who keep their hearts open when it is most difficult, those who refuse to keep their armor on any longer than they have to, those who recognize the courage at the heart of vulnerability. After all the malevolent warriors end each other, the open-hearted will inherit the earth.” – Jeff Brown
Today’s meditation can totally be considered an “I am enough” meditation. Join us and revel in the sensory experience that your amazing human body provides you. Take a moment to show gratitude for this divine vehicle you were gifted and remind your human form that you really are worthy and enough just as you are.
Guiding mantras for self-reflection:
- Honor Your Past: Acknowledge the role your coping mechanisms played in keeping you alive.
- Embrace Self-Compassion: Release self-judgment and cultivate kindness towards yourself.
- Explore New Possibilities: Gently explore if your coping mechanisms still serve you, and be open to adopting new behaviour in wisdom.
- I Am Enough: Repeat this powerful affirmation daily. You are worthy, just as you are.
Remember, you are not broken. You are a survivor, and within you lies the strength to heal and grow. Embrace your journey with kindness and love. By honoring your past and embracing self-compassion, you pave the way for a future filled with growth and possibility.
Have a good weekend peeps!
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Come to your senses.
A moment of reflection
(If you have the time, use this question as a journal prompt, because whenever you put pen to paper you’re wiring the neural pathways that create your new habits. But if you don’t have the time, just take a moment to reflect on your response.)
Honoring Your Protective Mechanisms: Think about a coping mechanism or behavior pattern you’ve been critical of in yourself. Instead of judging it, imagine having a conversation with this part of yourself as if it were a dear friend who has been protecting you. Write a letter to this protective mechanism, acknowledging how it has served you. What situations did it help you navigate? What pain did it shield you from? How did it keep you safe when you needed it most? End the letter by thanking it for its service and explaining how you’re growing stronger, and will need less of this coping strategy in future.
Today’s LIVE meditation
https://youtu.be/qU2rD_F7p7A 2025
https://youtu.be/xFaQ_FnABVo 2024
https://youtu.be/WHg184yzhPs 2023
https://youtu.be/i93v2wRFqlQ 2022
Q&A for deeper learning
1. What’s the difference between coping mechanisms and self-sabotage?
Coping mechanisms are adaptive strategies your psyche developed to help you survive difficult situations, trauma, or ongoing stress. They served a protective function at the time they were created. Self-sabotage, on the other hand, implies an intentional desire to harm yourself, which isn’t accurate. What we often label as self-sabotage is actually old coping mechanisms that no longer serve us in our current circumstances but continue operating because they once kept us safe.
2. How can I tell if my coping mechanisms are still serving me or holding me back?
Ask yourself these questions: Does this behavior help me feel safe or connected in healthy ways? Does it support my current goals and relationships? Am I using it consciously or does it feel automatic and compulsive? If your coping mechanism is creating more problems than it solves, isolating you from others, or preventing you from growing, it may be time to gently explore new approaches while honoring the protection it once provided.
3. Why is self-compassion important when working with old patterns?
Self-compassion creates the safety necessary for genuine change. When we approach our patterns with judgment and criticism, we activate our nervous system’s threat response, which actually reinforces the very protective mechanisms we’re trying to change. Compassion allows us to see our patterns clearly without shame, making space for conscious choice rather than reactive behavior.
4. What does it mean to “honor” my coping mechanisms before changing them?
Honoring means acknowledging the important role these mechanisms played in your survival and wellbeing. It involves recognizing that they developed for good reasons and served you when you needed them most. This might involve gratitude, understanding the context in which they emerged, or simply recognizing their protective intention before consciously choosing new responses.
5. How do I overcome the constant feeling of being “not enough”?
Start by recognizing that this feeling is often a cultural wound rather than a personal failing. Practice the “I am enough” affirmation daily, but also look for evidence of your inherent worth beyond achievements or external validation. Remember that simply staying alive and navigating this complex world is an achievement in itself. Consider that your perceived inadequacies might actually be evidence of your humanity and courage to keep growing.
6. What’s the difference between being vulnerable and being unprotected?
Vulnerability is a conscious choice to open your heart and share your authentic self despite the risk of rejection or hurt. It’s courage in action. Being unprotected, however, means having no boundaries or discernment about when and with whom to share your tender parts. Healthy vulnerability involves choosing when to lower your armor based on safety and connection, not abandoning your protective mechanisms entirely.
7. How long does it take to heal old patterns and wounds?
Healing happens at its own pace and varies greatly from person to person. As Jeff Brown notes, “The healing process has a heart of its own, moving at its own delicate pace.” Some patterns may shift relatively quickly once you bring consciousness to them, while others may take years of patient, gentle work. The key is not rushing the process but approaching it with consistent compassion and commitment to growth, understanding that healing is not linear and that setbacks are part of the journey.