00:30

Overthinking And Sleep - A Loving Reset

by Clare Downham

Rated
4.7
Type
guided
Activity
Meditation
Suitable for
Everyone
Plays
208

For those restless nights when your mind won’t switch off, this sleep-adjacent session offers a soothing perspective from the 3 Principles philosophy. Instead of fighting thought, discover how your inner wisdom is never far away, no fixing needed.

SleepInsomniaBody ScanBreath AwarenessSelf CompassionMindfulnessVisualizationPsychological HealthRelaxation3 Principles PhilosophyInsomnia ManagementMind ObservationVisualization TechniquePsychological Immune SystemRestful Awareness

Transcript

Welcome.

If you're listening right now,

I imagine your mind has been keeping you awake,

Thoughts swirling,

Sleep feeling far away.

It's okay,

You're not alone and you're not doing anything wrong.

Let's begin here,

Together.

You're safe,

You're not behind,

There's no rush and this moment doesn't need to be fixed or figured out.

Whether you're lying in bed with eyes closed or sitting up with a restless heart,

This is a space for softening.

Let's begin with the body because sometimes that's the best way to find our way back to quiet.

Relax.

Take a gentle breath in through the nose and slowly out through the mouth.

That's good.

Again,

In and out.

Let it feel natural.

There's no special way to breathe.

This is just an invitation to come home.

Let yourself feel the weight of your body wherever it's resting.

Let that surface hold you.

You don't need to hold yourself up right now.

You can let go just a little.

Notice if your shoulders are lifted.

Let them drop.

Notice if your jaw is clenched.

Let it soften.

Notice if your hands are curled.

Let them open slightly or rest palms down safe and supported.

You may notice right now that your thoughts are still trying to run the show.

Planning,

Solving,

Remembering,

Comparing.

It's okay.

The mind thinks.

That's what it does.

And during the stillness of the night,

It can feel louder than ever,

But you're allowed to just notice without getting involved.

From a three principles perspective,

We know this.

Your experience is being created from the inside out,

Which means nothing outside of you is causing this restlessness.

And just as the thoughts have come,

They will also go.

Perhaps you're already noticing that happening.

Thoughts coming in and going out from a place of gentle awareness.

I want you to know there's nothing urgent,

Nothing that must be handled right now,

Despite what your thoughts might be saying.

That nighttime thought doesn't need your attention.

It only seems loud because the world is so quiet.

Let's feel the breath again.

Feel it lower in the body now,

Towards the belly.

You might even place a hand there,

Just to feel the gentle rise and fall.

This is the rhythm of your life,

Reliable,

Steady,

A place to rest your awareness.

Now if it feels good,

Let's do a little body scan.

Nothing complicated.

Just a way of coming home to this moment right now.

Start by bringing your attention to your forehead.

Allow it to soften.

Then the space around your eyes,

Let that go loose and warm.

Down to your jaw,

Unclench,

Unhook.

Let the tongue rest gently at the bottom of the mouth.

Your neck,

Let the muscles release.

Your shoulders,

Drop them just a little further,

As if they could melt toward the bed.

Arms are heavy,

Hands soft.

Now your chest.

There's no need to control the breath.

Just be with the rhythm.

A little rise,

A little fall.

Down into the belly.

Let it be round,

Soft.

It's safe to let go.

And then your hips,

Your thighs,

Your knees,

Your calves,

Your ankles,

Feet and toes.

Each part of your body relaxing,

Resting,

Returning to stillness.

There may still be noise in the mind.

And that's not a problem.

It's just weather.

You don't have to chase the thoughts or shoo them away.

Like clouds floating gently across the sky.

Just let them pass.

You are the sky,

Not the clouds.

Even if you don't fall asleep straight away,

You can now rest.

Deep,

Nourishing rest is available right now.

It's okay to not try so hard.

It's okay to not get involved.

Your mind may offer stories.

That you need to figure something out.

That you won't cope tomorrow.

That something bad might happen if you don't fix this now.

Let's notice that gently.

And return to what's real.

You're lying in bed.

You're safe.

You're breathing.

And you're listening to the sound of my voice.

You are here.

You are not in the future.

Not in the past.

Just here.

Let that be enough.

Let the breath be enough.

You don't need to change the thoughts.

Just don't follow them.

Let them drift.

Let them fade.

If your body wants to shift or move slightly,

Let it.

Then settle again.

Sink a little deeper into comfort.

Now imagine if you like a soft,

Warm light glowing above your head.

This light is calm.

Loving.

Peaceful.

Just like the truth of who you are.

Let that light gently pour down.

Like a warm balm.

Over your forehead.

Your face.

Your shoulders.

Your chest.

Your arms.

Moving down the body.

Soothing every part of you.

Unwinding those places that are still gripping you.

This light is your own inner wisdom.

Your true self.

It never left.

It's always here.

Waiting beneath the noise.

You don't need to find peace.

You are peace.

Just covered for a moment by overthinking.

But never,

Ever lost.

You can trust your system to return to balance on its own.

You don't need to manage it.

You have a psychological immune system.

Let your breath carry you now.

Each inhale opening.

Each exhale softening.

And if sleep comes now,

Let it.

If not,

Let this moment be enough.

Let this space be one where you don't have to try.

Where being is more than enough.

You may drift off as I speak.

Or you may simply float in this quiet.

Either way,

This is rest.

This is your loving reset.

Let this final reminder land gently.

Overthinking is just a movement in the mind.

Not a problem.

Not a flaw.

Just weather.

And beneath that weather,

There is sky.

There is silence.

There is you.

Sleep well,

Dear one.

Or rest well.

You are safe.

You are whole.

And you are already home.

Meet your Teacher

Clare DownhamWest Yorkshire, United Kingdom

4.7 (14)

Recent Reviews

Carol

July 29, 2025

Accepting is better than fighting the inner voice. I was asleep 😴 before the end. Thank you 😊 🙏🏻

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© 2026 Clare Downham. All rights reserved. All copyright in this work remains with the original creator. No part of this material may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

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