Hello and welcome.
I invite you to take a moment to settle into a comfortable position.
Allow your shoulders to drop a little and just let out a breath.
Inhale.
Holding.
Exhale.
Letting it go.
Let this be your space,
Your pause,
Your reminder that you're allowed to take up room in this world.
As you breathe,
Notice what's happening inside your body right now.
Maybe your chest feels tight.
Maybe your stomach is buzzing.
Maybe you feel numb.
Maybe you feel everything at once.
Nothing you're feeling is wrong.
Your body is not malfunctioning.
It's protecting you.
The holidays may bring up memories,
Expectations,
Old wounds,
And sometimes loneliness that hits harder when the world looks joyful on the outside.
So if your nervous system is a little louder right now,
It makes sense.
I invite you to take another slow inhale.
And then exhale like you're releasing pressure from a valve.
Let your breath remind your body,
I am safe enough in this moment.
I'm allowed to slow down.
I don't have to hold everything alone.
If loneliness is present,
Don't fight it.
Just imagine setting it beside you like a visitor,
You're acknowledging,
But not a monster you're battling.
You don't have to push it away or explain it.
Just breathe near it.
You deserve connection.
You deserve rest.
And you deserve softness,
Especially when the world feels heavy.
If the holiday gatherings bring anxiety,
Maybe old family dynamics,
Maybe the fear of being misunderstood,
Just notice how your body responds.
Tension,
Heat,
That feeling of bracing.
When your next exhale,
Let your jaw loosen.
Let your shoulders slide down one inch.
And let your breath soften your ribs.
No matter what you walk into this season,
You don't have to shrink yourself.
You don't have to perform.
And you don't have to hold your breath to make other people comfortable.
You get to show up as you are.
You get to protect your peace.
And you get to choose what version of you enters the room.
If you've been missing someone or wishing things felt different,
I invite you to place a gentle hand over your heart.
Not to fix anything,
Just to remind yourself that you're still here.
You're still trying.
And that's enough.
Feel the warmth of your hand.
Feel your breath moving underneath.
That's your life force,
Your resilience,
Your proof that you've survived every hard season before this season.
You're here for this one.
And right now,
In this moment,
You are not as alone as you feel.
I'm here with you.
Your breath is here with you.
Your body is here with you.
Steady,
Showing up,
Trying again.
Take one more slow inhale.
And a long,
Unhurried exhale.
As you prepare to close this meditation,
Repeat to yourself,
Or just let the words move through you.
I'm allowed to be human.
I'm allowed to feel what I feel.
I am not alone.
And I am worthy of peace.
Take one more breath.
And when you're ready,
Gently open your eyes.
You did something good for yourself today,
And carry that with you.
Have a beautiful day.
