You Contain Multitudes

A reminder that all of you belongs.

In this episode, Frances returns to an earlier reflection — There’s a Universe Inside You — weaving together poetry, science, and gentle wonder to remind us that we are vast, luminous beings.

Inspired by a line from Walt Whitman and a moment from the film The Life of Chuck, Frances invites you into a reflection on the spiral of returning and the beauty of containing multitudes.

⏱ Timestamps: (8-minute listen)

• 00:00 – Opening & warm welcome
• 00:38 – Revisiting an old reflection: There’s a Universe Inside You
• 01:18 – Inspiration from The Life of Chuck and Whitman’s “I contain multitudes”
• 02:00 – The spiral of returning: seeing with new eyes
• 02:34 – Three Inner Truths:
• 02:45 – 1. You Are an Enigma
• 03:40 – 2. You Are Not Alone
• 04:36 – 3. You Have a Radiant Inner Light
• 05:45 –  Guided Practice
• 07:02 – Closing reflection & invitation to connect

Mentioned:

Song of Myself by Walt Whitman

The Life of Chuck (film)

Connect With Frances:

• Website: www.flourishingmindsco.com
• Substack: franceslacuesta.substack.com
• Instagram: @flourishingmindsco

Transcript

Frances Lacuesta: 0:00

Hello friends, welcome to Notes from the Tenderverse. I'm Frances Lacuesta, and I'm your host. Thank you for being here. This is a space where we explore life with wonder, humanity, and grace. If this is your first time listening, I'm so glad we found each other. Recently, I revisited an old piece I recorded on YouTube last year, and it was called There's a Universe Inside You. And as I listened again, I realized how much it still holds true for me, maybe even more now. So this reflection was reignited after watching the film, The Life of Chuck. So this was adapted from a short play by Stephen King. And there's a line there from Walt Whitman's poem, Song of Myself, that comes up again and again in the film. And this is the quote, I am large, I contain multitudes. And it stayed with me because it reminded me of that old recording I had. So I thought I'd return to it and share with you some of the takeaways I had there because I They feel so aligned with this tender verse that we are creating together. So coming back to something I once wrote feels like standing in the same place, but seeing it with new eyes. I'm not the same person I was when I first said those words. And I guess that's the beauty of it. Because when I circle back, I come in here with a new set of understanding. So today, I'd like to offer you these three guiding anchors as reminders of how much you contain multitudes. The first is, you are an enigma. The universe is vast and complex, but so are you. Think about this. There are trillions of galaxies in the universe, but only 8 billion people on Earth. Each of us is as unique and intricate as the galaxies floating in space. And just like the universe, we are still discovering new things about ourselves every day. Scientifically, we are made of the same elements that form the stars. As astronomer Carl Sagan said, "...the calcium in our bones and the iron in our blood..." were forged in the explosions of ancient stars billions of years ago. We carry the universe within us, quite literally. So, embrace your complexity. You don't need to have everything figured out. Just like the cosmos, you are meant to evolve and unfold over time. The second is you are not alone. We are all deeply interconnected, like the stars and planets in space. One of the most fascinating facts I learned from watching this series called Nova was that we are constantly feeding off of starlight. The sun, our very own star, is our source of energy and life. Without it, we wouldn't exist. So this connection extends beyond just the sun. Think about it. When you look up at the sky, someone else on the other side of the world is looking at the same sky. The same sun rises and sets for all of us. And we are part of something much bigger than ourselves. And no matter how isolated we may feel at times, we are never truly alone. The third tip, is you have a radiant inner light. You are a product of evolution, a child of the universe, a being of light. Sometimes we forget our own brilliance. Just like the James Webb telescope, which was built to uncover hidden cosmic objects billions of years ago, we too need to uncover the hidden brilliance within ourselves. So your light may have been dimmed by doubt, fear, or hardship, but it's still there. Your job is to rediscover it and let it shine. Whether it's through creativity, passion, or simply embracing who you are, you have something unique to offer to the world. So take up space, share your gifts. The universe within you is waiting to be seen. And so before we close, I want to offer you a simple practice. And this is just a few quiet moments to honor the multitudes within you. And if it feels safe, close your eyes and place one hand on your heart and the other on your belly. And just let your breath soften. then gently say to yourself, and I'm borrowing this from the movie, The Life of Chuck, I am wonderful. I deserve to be wonderful. And I contain multitudes. I am wonderful. I deserve to be wonderful. And I contain multitudes. And then notice what stirs inside you when you say that. Is there a part of you that you've been hiding? Or a version of you that longs to be seen? And so just hold space for that. And so if this reflection resonated with you, I'd love to hear from you. What part of your multitudes, the universe inside you, are you ready to embrace? What version of you are you ready to honor? If you'd like to share your story or reflections, you can find how to reach me in the show notes. And if this episode spoke to you, I'd be so grateful if you shared it with a friend or someone who might need it too. It helps the show grow and help others feel a little less alone in their journey. And as a parting message, if today you're doubting your worth or wondering if you're too much or not enough, remember, you are vast, you are large, and you contain multitudes. Until next time, bye for now.