Hi, and welcome to your Daily Mindfulness.

Today, I'm going to explore how we

relate to ourselves and how that

can affect the quality of our lives.

So as we're going about daily life,

it's really easy to slip into seeing

ourselves and our lives through

quite a negative lens, dwelling on

what's wrong with us in our lives.

And it's actually this negative

self-talk that forms the core of very

much of our inner struggle and stress.

If we continuously focus on what's

wrong with us, we can slowly begin to

crush our confidence, feel unworthy and

negative and be plagued with self-doubt.

So this kind of negative self-talk is not

a sign of anything deficient on your part.

It's not anything strange about you.

It's just a sign of having

a normal human mind.

So the human mind is wired

like a survival machine.

And for our ancestors, fitting in with

the group was an essential survival need.

So driven by an impulse to make sure

we get approval, the inner critic

comes in and demands us to do better.

It pushes us, it bullies us, it

criticizes us, points out all our

flaws, tells us we're not good enough.

And it does all this actually

in an attempt to keep us safe.

So the mind has good intentions.

So what in the caveman days was actually

a really helpful adaption for the mind,

these days, it's really mostly unhelpful.

This mental pattern just generates a lot

of negativity and unnecessary stress.

So if we can learn to unwind the inner

critic, cultivate a more appreciative

and kind way of relating to ourselves,

we can reclaim our confidence, cultivate

greater freedom and peace of mind

and naturally develop inner strength.

So one way we can start to bring this

more appreciative attitude towards

ourselves and daily life is to turn our

attention towards the good stuff about

ourselves which we normally overlook.

For instance, you could recognize

the goodness in your actions and

intentions as you go about your day.

This might be moments like being

patient when someone's holding you up.

You know, really noticing that.

Being helpful and friendly towards others.

It might be when you restrain the

urge to say something hurtful or rude.

It might be the sacrifices you make

for your family that no one else sees.

Or the efforts that you make to

protect the planet, like taking your

own bags to the store or recycling.

So in those moments, actually

pausing to appreciate your goodness.

And also on a really fundamental

level, you can sense into the

goodness at the core of your being.

There is a benevolence in awareness

itself, and it's there inside everyone,

no matter how obscured it may have become.

So today, if you care to inviting you

to tune into what's right with you and

letting the knowing of your own goodness

nourish, uplift, and strengthen you.

As always, thank you for your practice

and your presence here with us.

And let's settle in now

for today's meditation.