Hello,
I'm Alice and today's Radical Rest is called Eat the Damn Chocolate because sometimes we don't need more discipline,
We need to give ourselves permission.
You know those moments when everything feels too much,
Your mind is buzzing,
Your shoulders are tight and you're trying to talk yourself out of the tiny thing that might actually bring you some comfort.
Well today this is your permission slip to stop doing that.
So let's get comfortable and if it feels right for you,
You can go ahead and close your eyes or soften your gaze.
Just settling wherever you are.
Let your shoulders drop,
Unclench your jaw,
Relax the tongue.
Let your body feel loose.
If you're sitting,
Feel the weight of your body resting on the surface beneath you.
Feel supported.
In your own time and in your own way,
Take a slow gentle breath in and out and just become aware of the natural rhythm of your breathing.
It's unique to you.
The steady rise and fall of the breath is always there.
Continue to focus gently on your breath as you give yourself this moment of rest.
Today I'd like to talk about chocolate,
Specifically the dark chocolate,
The 75% and over type chocolate,
Rich,
Earthy,
Slightly bitter.
It's more than a treat,
It's a moment of letting go.
When I sit down with a piece of dark chocolate,
Okay,
Possibly three or four pieces but who's counting,
And my warm drink at the end of a day,
Something shifts for me.
I actually feel my breath slow and my body soften.
It's not really about the chocolate,
But it does help.
It's about the pause that comes with it.
Dark chocolate is actually full of magnesium and compounds that calm the nervous system.
But beyond the science,
There's the ritual,
The small sensory pleasure of something that asks for nothing in return.
So often we deny ourselves simple joy.
We can overthink it.
We sometimes feel the need to wait for the right time that never comes.
Here's the thing,
Rest doesn't have to be productive and pleasure doesn't have to be earned.
Whether it's chocolate,
A nap,
A walk or a TV show you love,
Giving yourself small amounts of comfort in your day is how you remind your body you're safe.
You are allowed to feel good even when the world feels heavy,
Especially then.
So today,
Maybe your radical rest is just that,
Saying yes to something small,
Sweet and grounding.
In your own time,
Take a slow,
Easy breath in and out.
And as we close our session today,
You can slowly awaken your body by stretching out your arms,
Maybe circling the feet or rolling the shoulders a few times.
Whatever feels right for you.
Remember there's no prize for withholding joy.
You don't need to earn your calm or your chocolate.
So go ahead,
Eat the chocolate,
Whatever that means for you today.
I hope you enjoyed today's radical rest and I hope you are able to carry this small calm with you and know that this is a space you can return to whenever you need.
