HOW TO REDUCE SOCIAL ANXIETY AT MEDITATION CLASS

Here is what I wrote a client of mine with Social Anxiety who is starting a meditation class next week...

In order to decrease your social anxiety on the first day of the Meditation Class, you can focus on applying "Honesty, Love, and Acceptance" in this way...

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1. LOVE & COMPASSION

You can think about the Buddhist values of love & compassion, and go in there feeling love and compassion towards everywhere there. You can view it as "loving kindness" meditation.

Regarding COMPASSION, you can remember that everyone's life is difficult, in ways we don't know.

- Over 90% of people are stressed.

- Everyone has shame.

- 50% of people are lonely, and 25% of people have no one to talk about important matters with.

- Everyone's got something.

So, we can view everyone as being in the SAME BOAT. We feel compassion towards everyone in the boat, and this makes it easier to feel compassion towards ourselves.

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2. HONESTY

If you are asked about yourself or why you are there, just BE HONEST.

For example, "I have anxiety. I find that the Buddhist values of Love, Compassion, and Meditation are really helpful for my anxiety.

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3. ACCEPTANCE

Just ACCEPT any worrisome thoughts as they come and go. This is exactly why you have chosen to do meditation. You can work on ACCEPTING your thoughts, and not taking them so seriously... and focusing on Love/Compassion and Honesty instead.

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Let me know if you'd like to know more about how I can help you apply Honesty, Love, and Acceptance to overcome your social anxiety and/or any other anxiety you have been having.

To Honesty, Love, and Acceptance... and the healing power of these basic human values...

Marni Penner

Anxiety & Social Anxiety Coach