A blessing for self-doubt

When self doubt appears
You feel off-balance
Your centre of gravity seems to exist somewhere outside of your body
And decisions feel hard.

Shakily, you search for that feeling of deep centre
The rootedness you know you’ve felt before
Where is it?

Self doubt is fear -
Fear of failing
Fear of not having the answers
Fear of having no one to blame but yourself

And fear is a pumice stone;
No wonder you feel so worn down.

When self doubt creeps in 
May you call yourself back home, 
like a lover; with tenderness

Call your body home - slow down, get heavy, burn incense, look around you.
Call your spirit home - find it at the top and bottom of every breath.
Call your mind home, summoning every thought back like a shepherd does their sheep
No thoughts pushed away
No emotions excluded.

Slowly, patiently, let all your parts come home,
And then notice
The one to whom they return home to - 
That is the inner voice you feared you’d lost
Whose job is not to silence all doubt
But to lead you, doubts and all, step by step

How funny that she was there the entire time
Ready to listen
Full of wisdom and the courage you thought you lacked.

Home again, surrounded by yourself,
May your belonging be deep 
May your knowing rise easily
And may calling yourself home be a daily practice
To support you as you step bravely out into each day’s purpose.