18. The meditation I wish I had in my 20s

I’ve been thinking about loneliness lately. Not the kind that comes from being physically alone, but the kind that sits quietly in your chest even when you’re surrounded by people. I’ve known that feeling well.

In my 20s, I had everything I thought I wanted - a super busy social life, lots of partying, people all around me. But inside, I was restless and lost. I clung tightly to friendships, constantly needing reassurance and connection, terrified of being left out or left behind.

I didn’t realise it at the time, but I was trying to fill an emptiness that no one else could fill. My neediness pushed people away and I ended up feeling even lonelier.

Then, one day, I met an older woman, an artist and yoga teacher, who saw something in me I hadn’t yet seen in myself. She told me “Everything you need is already inside you”.

No one had ever said that to me before. It felt like a tiny seed of magic to 22 year old me.

That wasn’t the last time I felt lonely or looked outward for a sense of worth. But it was the first time I considered that maybe the connection I was craving could begin with me.

This week on The Mindful Memo Podcast, I’ve recorded a meditation for those moments when you feel lonely. It’s not about fixing the loneliness or chasing it away. It’s about gently turning inward and discovering that you are already a beautiful friend to yourself.

You can listen now on The Mindful Memo Podcast on Apple or Spotify.

I hope it feels like a soft place to land.

Libby x