MYSELF & MY S.E.L.F.
THE START, THE ART, & THE HEART
OF
S.E.L.F. APPRECIATION
The next day, when BA~TA~KA returns to the cafe, she sees that all the booths, except for the one smack dab in the middle, have disappeared. Seated at the booth, is a single ray of glistening sunlight playing Bohemian Rhapsody on the harmonica. The ray of sunlight beckons BA~TA~KA over and she realizes, after a moment, that it’s S.E.L.F.
Exactly six minutes and thirty-two secconds later, the last bar of Queen
rings out into the acoustically perfect restautrant.
~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~
S.E.L.F.: Beauty full to see you. Did you enjoy the manual?
BA~TA~KA: Actually, yes, I did. The concept of a literal brain in the heart really hit home. And when I look at course material through a heart-brained lens, it’s all starting to resonate with me.
S.E.L.F.: Outstanding! Let’s order a drink and get down to business.
Suddenly, Bleem appears with two of the smallest glass goblets BA~TA~KA has ever seen. One is filled with a liquid so beauty full, she has to look away every 4 seconds. The other is filled with nothing.
SERVER: Well, hello again, Ladies. Your drinks have arrived! Here, we have two of our most exquisite signature bocktails. This one is called Liquid Pearls and this empty-looking one is called, The Amelia.
BA~TA~KA: After Amelia Earhart?
SERVER: OMG, Yes! How did you know? No one has ever guessed!
BA~TA~KA: I’m not sure. It sort of just came out of me. Kind of like when this liquid pearls drink showed up, I felt like I’d actually ordered it.
S.E.L.F.: You did order it. You just weren’t conscious of doing it. How do you like it?
She starts to take a sip of the pearls, but the aroma is so pleasing, she forgets to drink.
BA~TA~KA: This smells like my little sister’s eighth birthday party. We went to a glow-in-the-dark bowling alley, and that was the night I met my best friend, Alex. We ate this orange candy from the vending machine that I’ve never seen again since.
SERVER: How astute! There are definitely notes of citrus and bowling alley in that drink’s bouquet.
Would you like to order something special for your S.A.Meditation?
S.E.L.F.: No need. I’ve already taken care of that. Thank you, Bleem!
SERVER: My absolute pleasure.
Bleem floats off in a cloud of rose-scented stardust.
S.E.L.F.: Shall we?
BA~TA~KA: Sure.
S.E.L.F.: Alright then. As you read in the manual, heart~brain coherence is a super-state that unlocks a treasure trove of positive benefits. In SELF~LOVE~LAND, we use it as an entry point into our S.A.Meditations. When we favour the brain in our head – our default state – it creates a feeling of overactivity, swirling thoughts and stress. When we create a balance between head and heart, it instantly beautifies our energetic field. Follow me:
Take your hand and touch it to your heart.
Now, bring your Sublte Energy Awareness to this area.
Think of a pulse of energy rippling out of you.
Take a moment to actually feel it.
The subtle motion of every inhale and every exhale
Enhances your rippling energy.
Allow your belly to intuitively know when it’s time to open and close.
Make each exhale just a little longer than your inhale.
Curl your eyes into a smile.
Now think about something you APPRECIATE.
Allow the feeling to wash over your whole being like a wave.
~Ebbing~ Flowing~
~~Pulsing~ Vibrating~~
~~~Waves of Appreciation~~~
Now imagine you’re not just making the waves
Imagine you are the waves winding and swirling through the water.
Buoyant~ Bouncing~
Imagine your spine elongating as it floats in your body
With every pulse of energy you grow
Bigger and bigger and bigger~~~
Now imagine that you are breathing beauty full rainbow-coloured air.
Every colour is a part of you.
Every colour is appreciated.
Imagine waves of self~compassion
Feeling forgiveness for every time you forgot
That you’re a part of nature.
Your heart is a compassionate compass
Guiding you back to your
Natural
Intuitive
Creative
Expressive
S.E.L.F.
~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~
BA~TA~KA looks around and realizes that she’s no longer at the cafe.
She is now floating inside a bubble of swaying flowers
Each one illuminated by its own ray of sunlight.
S.E.L.F is still beside her.
S.E.L.F.: How are you?
BA~TA~KA: Amazing.
S.E.L.F.: Where are you?
BA~TA~KA: In my heart.
S.E.L.F.: Wonderful. Let’s get started. Ask me anything.