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Steven Webb
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The Embrace of Your Inner Parent

Inner Peace Meditations podcast, by Steven Webb

Links to Steven Webb’s podcast and how you can support his work.

Meditation Description

Have you ever wished for a voice of unconditional love and support, especially during difficult times? This guided meditation is your invitation to connect with that voice within.

As a companion to the Stillness in the Storms episode, “The Parent You Never Knew You Had,” this practice will help you create a safe inner space to meet and embrace the wise, compassionate, and reassuring parent that resides within you. Allow yourself to move from self-criticism to deep self-acceptance and feel the profound comfort of coming home to yourself.

Who is This Meditation For?

This meditation is for you if you:

  • Struggle with a loud or persistent inner critic.
  • Are seeking clarity, direction, or gentle guidance in your life.
  • Wish to build self-compassion and improve your sense of self-worth.
  • Feel overwhelmed and are in need of comfort, safety, and reassurance.
  • Want to cultivate a more loving and supportive relationship with yourself.

Benefits of This Meditation

By practicing this meditation, you can:

  • Reduce Self-Judgment and Anxiety: Quiet the harsh voice of your inner critic and feel a greater sense of calm.
  • Cultivate Deep Self-Compassion: Learn to treat yourself with the kindness and understanding you would offer a dear friend.
  • Increase Feelings of Safety and Security: Create an inner sanctuary where you feel unconditionally loved and accepted.
  • Access Your Inner Wisdom: Connect with your intuition to make decisions that are more aligned with your well-being.
  • Support Emotional Healing: Gently nurture parts of yourself that may have felt neglected or criticized in the past.

Out Of Your Head, into Peace

Inner Peace Meditations podcast, by Steven Webb

Links to Steven Webb’s podcast and how you can support his work.

Out of Your Head, Into Peace is a simple 3-minute meditation to help you gently drop out of mental chatter and reconnect with the quiet calm of your body and breath.

Whether you’re overwhelmed, anxious, or simply need a moment of clarity, this short practice invites you to let go of control, soften your thinking, and return to the wisdom of your heart.

This track is free from ads thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. If you’d like to support the podcast or listen to more meditations, you’ll find links below. Thank you for being here.

Steven

Empathy vs. Compassion: What's the Real Difference?

Links to Steven Webb’s podcast and how you can support his work.

Compassion is at the heart of our discussion today, so let’s dive right into it. We explore how compassion serves as a cosmic wink that connects us all, as Alan Watts puts it. This episode unpacks the differences between compassion, empathy, and judgment, and how understanding these can help us navigate our lives better. We’re all just players in this game called life, and recognizing each other’s struggles is key to becoming whole. Join me, Steven Webb, as we unravel what it really means to practice compassion in our daily interactions and why it matters more than ever.

Compassion is a fascinating topic, and in this episode, I dive deep into what it really means. I start by reflecting on Alan Watts’ idea that compassion is like a cosmic wink, a warm acknowledgment that we see each other as fellow players in this game of life. I also explore the thoughts of Ken Wilber, who suggests that true judgment comes from a place of compassion. This leads me to ponder the differences between judgment, empathy, and compassion. Judgment often comes with a personal lens, where we see the world through our own experiences, and this can lead to negative assessments of others. Empathy, on the other hand, lets us feel what others feel, but it can sometimes become self-centered, drawing us away from the person in need. Compassion, however, is about genuinely being present for someone without the need to turn the spotlight back onto ourselves. It’s about opening our hearts and really seeing others for who they are, not just for their struggles but as whole beings. Throughout this episode, I share personal stories and insights that highlight the importance of compassion in our lives, especially during tough times. I encourage listeners to practice small acts of kindness and to approach each interaction with an open heart, allowing us to become whole together.

Takeaways:

  • Compassion is recognized as the cosmic wink acknowledging our shared human experience. It connects us all.
  • Empathy and judgment differ significantly, where empathy often centers around our own feelings and experiences.
  • True compassion requires us to open our hearts to others rather than projecting our own experiences onto them.
  • To foster compassion, we need to embrace both our weaknesses and strengths, allowing us to become whole.
  • Compassion is action-oriented, encouraging us to care for others without turning the focus back to ourselves.
  • Practicing small acts of kindness daily can help cultivate a more compassionate mindset in our lives.

Quickly Back to Calm – A Gentle 3 Minute Reset

Inner Peace Meditations podcast, by Steven Webb

Links to Steven Webb’s podcast and how you can support his work.

Back to Centre: A Gentle 3-Minute Reset is your pause button for the day. When life gets loud or the mind feels scattered, this short practice helps you come home to yourself—grounded, present, and calm.

In just three minutes, you’ll reconnect with the simplicity of your breath, the steadiness of your body, and the quiet space that always lives within you. No need to change anything. Just notice, allow, and soften.

This meditation is free from ads thanks to the kindness of listeners like you. If it helped you, consider sharing it or supporting the podcast through the links below.

With gratitude,

– Steven

Attachment Isn’t the Enemy. The Struggle to Let Go Is

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🧘 Episode Summary

In this episode of Stillness in the Storms, I talk about attachment. It’s one of the biggest causes of suffering, but I’m not here to tell you to let go. I think that advice is nonsense. What if instead of trying to let go, we simply allowed things to be as they are?

I share what attachment has looked like in my life. From cigarettes to identity to the future I imagined that never arrived. You’ll also hear from members of my WhatsApp group who told me what they find hardest to let go of. We cover nostalgia, self-worth, change, and why trying so hard is often the problem.

This is not about giving everything up. It’s about loosening the grip, opening your hand, and allowing what comes and goes to just be.

🎧 Why Listen

  • You are struggling to let go and nothing seems to work
  • You are attached to a past version of yourself or a future that never came
  • You want a down-to-earth take on mindfulness and Buddhist teachings that make sense in real life
  • You are tired of chasing happiness and need space to breathe

🌟 Quotes from the Episode

  • “Letting go is pants. It doesn’t work. Just open your hand and let it be.”
  • “You don’t have to give something up forever. Just give it up for one hour.”
  • “You’re not a smoker who gave up. You’re just someone who didn’t smoke this hour.”
  • “The minute you stop trying to be better, the better version of you starts to show up.”
  • “Buddhism doesn’t say don’t love. It says don’t cling.”
  • “Enjoy the moment but don’t become attached to it. Let it come and go.”

☕ Thank You

This podcast is free and always will be because of the people who support it. I do not run adverts. That’s a choice I make so you can tune in and hear what I have to say without interruption.

Huge thanks to

Senga – your five coffees came in just as I hit record

Michael, Dominique, Ulysses – yes, you bought 34 coffees, you legend

Nick, Julie, and Anne – thank you so much

And to all my monthly supporters – I see you and I’m deeply grateful

If you want to support the show and keep it advert-free, the link is in the notes. Supporters also get access to the private WhatsApp group where I share new meditations and episodes first, and where we talk honestly about the stuff that matters.

The Open Hand of Allowing: A Meditation for Releasing Attachments

Inner Peace Meditations podcast, by Steven Webb

Links to Steven Webb’s podcast and how you can support his work.

Episode Summary:

Do you ever feel like you’re holding on too tightly to something – a person, a thought, a desire, or even an expectation? In this guided meditation from the “Inner Peace Meditations” podcast, we explore the gentle yet powerful practice of “The Open Hand of Allowing.” Discover how to release the struggle of attachment and find freedom not by forcing yourself to let go, but by simply allowing things to be as they are. This practice can lead to a profound sense of calm and a lighter, more peaceful state of being.

In this episode, you will be guided through a meditation to help you:

  • Acknowledge and sit with your attachments without judgment. [0:08]
  • Understand the physical and mental strain of holding on too tightly. [3:08]
  • Experience the difference between forcefully trying to let go and gently allowing. [3:45]
  • Cultivate a sense of inner peace by releasing the need to control. [5:11]
  • Develop a new, more compassionate approach to dealing with attachment in your daily life. [9:23]

Benefits of this Meditation:

This meditation offers a unique approach to dealing with attachment. Instead of creating more tension by trying to force things away, you will learn the art of non-resistance. The key benefit is discovering that true release comes from a place of acceptance, not struggle. By practicing the “open hand of allowing,” you can reduce the mental and emotional energy spent on clinging to outcomes, thoughts, or feelings.

This practice is particularly helpful for:

  • Reducing anxiety and stress associated with attachment.
  • Cultivating a greater sense of emotional freedom and resilience.
  • Improving your ability to be present and mindful.
  • Fostering a more compassionate relationship with yourself.

If you are looking for a way to find peace from the constant pull of attachment, this meditation provides a gentle and effective path. Join us to learn how to open your hand and your heart to a more peaceful way of being.

Keywords: Meditation, Inner Peace, Guided Meditation, Attachment, Dealing with Attachment, Letting Go, Mindfulness, Stress Relief, Emotional Wellbeing, Acceptance, Non-resistance.

Stillness by the Sea: Ageing Gracefully with Gratitude

Inner Peace Meditations podcast, by Steven Webb

Links to Steven Webb’s podcast and how you can support his work.

Episode Title: Stillness by the Sea: Ageing Gracefully with Gratitude

Description:

Welcome to another episode of Inner Peace Meditations. Today’s journey invites you to the serene shores of an imaginary sea—where stillness, reflection, and gratitude meet. This meditation offers a peaceful space to contemplate the beauty of ageing, releasing societal fears, and embracing the wisdom that comes with each passing year.

Through vivid imagery and gentle guidance, you’ll be encouraged to recognize your inner radiance and honour your journey. Whether you’re noticing the first signs of change or are well into your golden years, this meditation helps bring grace, presence, and self-acceptance to the process of growing older.

Take a deep breath, find a comfortable seat, and let the waves of peace carry you inward.

Benefits:

  • Cultivates gratitude for the ageing process
  • Supports emotional acceptance and inner peace
  • Encourages presence and self-reflection
  • Promotes a loving mindset towards life’s transitions
  • Fosters a sense of wisdom and inner resilience

The Freedom of Forgiveness: Letting Go For Yourself

Inner Peace Meditations podcast, by Steven Webb

Links to Steven Webb’s podcast and how you can support his work.

Episode Title: The Freedom of Forgiveness: Letting Go For Yourself

Podcast: Inner Peace Meditations with Steven Webb

Welcome to Inner Peace Meditations. This podcast will always be free and without adverts, made possible by the kind support of listeners. Thank you for being here.

A Note from Steven: If you find this meditation on forgiveness helpful, you may also wish to listen to the discussion on the same topic on my other podcast, Stillness in the Storms. You can find that episode here: [Insert Link to Stillness in the Storms episode]

About This Meditation

This guided meditation is an invitation to find freedom by forgiving. Forgiveness isn’t about excusing what happened or forgetting the pain; it’s about choosing to release the heavy weight of resentment for your own well being. It’s a gift you give to yourself. Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to be harmed; this practice is the antidote, allowing you to reclaim your own peace and move forward.

In this session, we will gently acknowledge past hurts and use the power of affirmation to cultivate an open and peaceful heart. You will be guided to see that you can be whole again, even after being hurt.

Who Is This Forgiveness Meditation For?

This meditation is designed to help if you are struggling with the pain of past events and want to find a way to move forward. It can be particularly helpful if you are looking to:

  • Find peace after being cheated on or betrayed in a relationship.
  • Let go of the anger and hurt caused by a friend or family member.
  • Heal from difficult experiences at work or from childhood.
  • Release resentment you hold towards a person, an organisation, or a situation that caused you pain.
  • Stop feeling stuck in a loop of thinking about what happened.
  • Learn how to forgive someone for your own peace, even if you never speak to them again.
  • Find a sense of freedom from the past so you can live more fully in the present.

Key Concepts in This Meditation

  • Forgiveness for You: The central theme is that this act is for your freedom, not because the other person deserves it.
  • Mushin (No-Mind): We touch on the Zen concept of a mind free from attachment and lingering resentment, allowing experiences to arise and pass freely.
  • Acknowledge, Don’t Re-live: You will be guided to acknowledge the event and the feelings it stirs without getting lost in the story.
  • Affirmations for Healing: The practice uses gentle, inward affirmations such as, “I forgive you. Not for you, but for me,” and, “May I live with an open and peaceful heart”.

Support the Podcast

These meditations are offered for free, without ads, to help as many people as possible. If you find value in this and would like to help support its creation, you can make a small donation. Thank you for your support.

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Forgiveness Begins When the Heart Breaks Open

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🎙 Episode Title: Forgiveness Begins When the Heart Breaks Open

Forgiveness Meditation: Forgiveness for Your Freedom

🧘 Host: Steven Webb | Stillness in the Storms

🎧 Episode Summary:

In this honest and raw episode, I talk about my own journey through heartbreak, betrayal and real forgiveness. Not the kind where you say the right words to move on. The kind that comes slowly. Quietly. The kind that has nothing to do with the other person.

I share the story of being cheated on. The numbness. The anger. The questions I never asked. And the moment, years later, when a single text made me realise I had already forgiven her.

This is not about forgetting. It is not about being okay with what happened. It is about breaking the grip that the past has on your heart. It is about grieving the life you thought you were going to live. It is about reclaiming your peace.

If someone has hurt you or left you, or if you are stuck in a story that replays over and over, this episode is for you.

🛠 In This Episode:

  • Why “forgive and forget” is a myth
  • How I navigated betrayal while living with paralysis
  • The day I realised I had truly forgiven
  • Why we grieve the imagined life more than the person
  • How to let go when there are no answers
  • A simple practice to begin your own path to forgiveness

🧘 Forgiveness Practice and Affirmations:

Find a quiet space. Sit comfortably. Bring to mind the person or situation that caused the pain. Let it sit without story. Just feel what is there. Then say inwardly:

  • I remember the harm that was done.
  • I may not be ready to forgive, but I am willing to try.
  • May I find peace in my heart.
  • May I be free from the pain that caused you to hurt me.
  • I release myself from the burden of this hurt.

You do not have to rush. You do not have to think about it every day. Just let the practice do its work. And when the mind brings it up again, simply say, I forgave them. Let it pass. And over time, the weight softens.

💬 Listener Support:

If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone who needs it. And if you can, help keep the podcast going by visiting stevenwebb.uk

Afternoon Stillness for a Busy Mind

Inner Peace Meditations podcast, by Steven Webb

Links to Steven Webb’s podcast and how you can support his work.

Afternoon Stillness for a Busy Mind

Sometimes the hardest part of the day is the middle. You’ve done a lot, but there’s still more ahead. Your mind races, your focus scatters, and your body feels tight or heavy. This five-minute guided meditation offers a simple pause to help you reconnect with calm, reset your attention, and soften the noise.

This practice is ideal for anyone who feels overwhelmed, distracted, or mentally exhausted during the afternoon. It’s especially supportive for those juggling work, caregiving, chronic health issues, or emotional burnout. Whether you’re sitting at your desk, taking a quiet moment in the car, or finding a few minutes alone between tasks — this meditation is a soft anchor to bring you back.

You’ll be guided through gentle breath awareness and subtle body connection to help ease tension and slow the pace of your thoughts. There’s no pressure to do it perfectly — just space to be, breathe, and return to your centre.

This track can help with:

  • Afternoon overwhelm or brain fog
  • Emotional stress or anxious thoughts
  • Reconnecting with presence and clarity
  • Creating a mindful break in your routine
  • Cultivating inner peace in the middle of busy days

Give yourself this small gift of stillness. You deserve it.