Settle into your body,
Let your shoulders drop,
Unclench your jaw,
Release the tension you didn't even know you were holding.
Take a deep breath in,
And let it go with a big sigh.
You've been gripping so tightly,
And right now,
During this meditation,
You're going to practice letting go.
There's a pattern that shows up when you least expect it,
Spinning scenarios of everything that could go wrong,
Problems that could emerge,
Ways things might fall apart if you're not vigilant enough,
Prepared enough,
In control enough.
This is worst-case thinking,
Your mind creating elaborate disasters that feel real in the moment,
And you already know,
Deep down,
Those disasters almost never happen.
The thing you feared would destroy everything either doesn't occur,
Or it resolves far more easily than you imagined,
But the worry doesn't care about your track record,
It just keeps generating new catastrophes to brace for,
New problems to solve before they even exist.
Here's what you need to remember,
This feeling is not grounded in reality,
What your mind is showing you is not a prediction,
It's just your nervous system playing out worst-case scenarios as if preparing for them will keep you safe.
But you don't need that vigilance anymore,
You're on the smooth descent,
The hardest work is behind you,
You're approaching a threshold that's already mostly crossed,
You're in the final phase now,
And even if there are minor bumps,
You have handled far worse with far less preparation than you have right now.
Notice where you're holding tension,
Your shoulders,
Chest,
Jaw,
Hands,
These are all the places where you're gripping,
Bracing,
Trying to control outcomes through force of will.
Let your shoulders drop,
Consciously lower them,
Soften your jaw,
Unclench your hands,
Your body doesn't need to be braced for disaster,
It can relax.
Now release the mental grip too,
The constant scanning for problems,
The need to prepare for every scenario,
The belief that worry will prevent catastrophe,
Let it go,
Just for now,
Let it all go.
Right now,
In this exact moment,
Nothing is wrong,
There is no crisis,
No disaster,
This moment is actually peaceful.
You spent decades preparing for problems,
Solving challenges,
Holding everything together,
You've been remarkable,
And now you get to enjoy all that dedication has created,
Not someday when everything is perfect,
But right now.
This phase you're in,
The completion,
The transition,
Is meant to be savoured,
These are the closing chapters of something you've poured years into,
And they're already almost written.
When the worry starts,
Notice it,
Name it,
This is worst case thinking,
This is not reality,
Then return to your body,
Drop your shoulders,
Soften your jaw,
Take a breath,
And remind yourself,
I am on this smooth descent,
This chapter is almost complete,
I can let go.
You don't have to solve problems that don't exist yet,
You just have to be here,
Now,
And trust that you can handle whatever actually shows up,
If it shows up at all.
Take a moment to acknowledge,
You did this,
You showed up,
You navigated all of it,
And you're still standing,
Not just standing,
Thriving.
The hardest part is over,
And what's ahead is the next chapter,
The one you've been working toward all along.
Feel your body one more time,
Notice your breath,
You are safe,
The transition is assured,
There is nothing you need to grip or brace for,
When worry tries to pull you into worst case scenarios,
Remember this moment,
Drop your shoulders,
Release the grip,
And return to the truth,
I am on this smooth descent,
This chapter is almost complete,
And I can trust what comes next.
May you release the grip,
And discover the peace beneath the worry,
May you enjoy these final chapters rather than endure them,
May you trust that the disasters you imagine will not come to pass,
And that you are more than capable of meeting whatever actually arises,
May you soften into knowing you are on this smooth descent,
That this transition is already well underway,
And everything you've rooted for is yours to savour,
Let go,
Relax,
You've earned this peace,
When you're ready,
Gently open your eyes,
And take this truth with you into your day.
