Holiday Stress Relief Meditation | The Healing Snow Globe

Greetings my dear.

You are listening to a guided sleep meditation for holiday stress relief.

You deserve to feel the best you can during the holiday season.

Amid all the changes and stressors of this frenzied time of year,

I encourage you to go deep within and tend to the parts of you that seek peace and healing.

This meditation is intended for sleep,

But should you need to take time for yourself at any point during the holidays,

You may wish to set an alarm should you prefer to stay awake at the end.

And a safe cozy place to sit down or lie down.

Cast aside your concerns.

Open your heart and mind to the possibility of pleasure and tranquility,

No matter what happens around you.

Hold the space for contentment and respite,

For joyous surprises and curiosity throughout the season.

It's time to dream away.

I would like to welcome you to Michelle's Meditation Sanctuary.

I am Michelle.

And as you listen,

Think of me as a dear friend and advocate.

I want you to feel all the love and comforts you deserve during the holiday season and every other time of year.

No matter what is taking place,

Together you and I have the power to help you feel good and to reconnect with your needs and desires.

My intention is that you feel the best you can.

You may set the same intention or find one that resonates more.

At any point you may let go of my voice and I encourage you to feel what's right and let go of what doesn't.

You have more influence on your experiences than you may even realize right now.

Let this experience remind you.

No matter what happens,

No matter what anyone says or does,

No matter how you may feel at this moment,

Your needs matter.

You deserve kindness.

You deserve love.

You deserve to feel safe within your body and in the sanctuary of your room as you wind down.

Nuggerate in the softness of this moment as best you can.

The holiday season can be noisy and chaotic and even the simplest of errands or tasks become challenging.

This time of year may bring more feelings to the surface than any other time and that is okay.

You can accept and nurture each emotion to arise because each feeling is an indicator of what you need and what you may need to release.

As you settle,

Place one hand on your heart and the other on your belly.

Sigh.

Feel the warmth of your palms on you,

Offering comfort and bringing attention to these emotional centers of holding.

Open your mouth and let out a sigh.

And with this sigh and the sighs to follow,

Let go of expectations that you have for the holidays.

The ones that were planted in your mind from films and television.

The expectations that you created.

The ideas of how you have thought things were supposed to be.

In actuality,

Things were never supposed to be any particular way at all.

And carrying such great expectations is like bearing the weight of Jacob Marley's chains in his ghostly visit to Scrooge.

Take in a deep breath through your nose and as you do,

Think of a holiday aroma that soothes you.

Fresh boughs of pine,

Baked goods,

Fresh white snow,

Whatever scent takes you to a place of coziness and safety.

And open your mouth and yawn.

Even at times throughout the day,

When you have no intentions to sleep,

A yawn slows down your brainwaves and indicates to your body that you can relax.

And then sigh,

Blow away expectations like snowflakes on a winter breeze.

You don't need them anymore.

You don't need the pressure.

You don't deserve the heaviness they bring.

Enjoy one more round of this pattern of breathing as you sip in soothing air,

Yawn and sigh.

Welcome warm,

Fuzzy and comforting feelings as you sink into your bed.

The cozy aspects of the season may help you unwind,

Like tall tapered candles flickering in windows,

Soft fluffy sweaters and scarves,

Colorful lights that create a warm ambiance.

Allow the beautiful imagery of this time to come to you as one more time you inhale,

Yawn and sigh.

Return your breath to normal and imagine a blanket of colorful light cloaks you in hope and kindness.

Like the soft hues of incandescent holiday lights illuminating a homey room at night,

You bask in the glow.

The shimmering light massages you from head to toe,

Like gentle waves cascading around the curves of your body.

It offers a cocoon of protection as you go deeper within the sanctuary inside.

You are safe in this place,

Free to be your most authentic self.

Everything can interfere with the connection you have as you offer yourself this time for self compassion and self care.

Go easy on yourself.

You deserve the ease offered by this moment,

By the warm glow that covers your person to seal in all the pleasant feelings and healing to come with this practice.

The healing,

Vibrant light pulses at places of tension in your body and releases you into an in-between space where you drift from consciousness to a lucid dream.

In this space,

Anything is possible.

This thought stays at the front of your mind as you surrender,

Feeling the lightness of letting go,

Feeling the heaviness of sinking into the support of this moment.

Like the ebb and flow of a tide,

These contrasting sensations can exist at once.

As you honor the complexity of being human,

Of being fluid like water,

Adapting,

Floating,

And doing whatever it takes to come down from the day.

In a state of peace,

It is easier to accept life through a positive lens.

The focus may turn to your successes and joys as the power of worries and frustrations diminishes.

Like the dial on an analog clock,

You may always reset yourself to the state of peace and bliss.

Your imagination is a sacred gift that can cultivate the setting you desire.

During the holiday season,

It is easy to fall into a way of thinking and a sense that things are supposed to be a certain way.

Of having expectations that define moments that have yet to happen.

Every journey is different and you may find peace when you focus back on your journey and all you may control.

This is your story.

This is your holiday.

Each day is part of a finite landscape of time that you have to live how you choose to live.

And you may choose to add sparkle,

To shine like holiday light and bring beauty to darkness.

By not comparing yourself or your journey to others,

You relieve yourself from the distraction of things you cannot control.

By not judging others,

You maintain the bandwidth to focus on thoughts that lift your spirits.

When you stop judging others,

The harsh self-critic that shows up like Scrooge may disappear.

Acceptance does not mean things are how you want them to be or how you thought they would be.

It is simply lowering the noise of your inner critic so you may find the peace that you deserve.

In the season that promises joy and connection,

You may connect with yourself each day in little ways.

It is the one promise you can keep for yourself.

You may make choices that help you find a constant during a season that changes routines in big and small ways.

You may find yourself dealing with loss or longing for how things once were.

You may find yourself aching for the things that have yet to come.

But at the heart of this discomfort,

Deep below this surface,

You may discover that all this yearning comes from love.

The deep desires you have are universally felt.

They have inspired some of the most beloved holiday songs with lyrics and melodies crafted from love.

And right now,

You may bring this love back to yourself.

You may be the source of love you seek.

Allow yourself to feel this.

With love pouring over you like a gilded wave.

Some changes that come with the holidays may be welcome and take you away from routines like a breath of fresh,

Wintry air that makes you feel alive.

Some changes may affect your daily rhythm as stressors among people in gatherings may be amplified in contrast expectations of community and holiday spirit.

You can always let go of these expectations.

And when these moments occur and when you find yourself rattled,

Come back to your breath.

Visualize the colorful light as it surrounds you like a bubble to protect your peace.

You have the right to prioritize your holiday intention of finding balance and collecting calm moments.

Throughout each day,

You may capture the simplest of moments that feel like a sigh and offer a reminder that you are okay.

You can find these reminders in the kind eyes of someone who says hello in a deep breath that brings you back to your body.

In a seasonal activity that you look forward to.

In the perfect bite or an enjoyable aroma.

In a beloved article of clothing that makes you feel comfortable.

The more aware you are of these moments,

The more you will notice in your waking life.

And as you do,

Collect each moment and imagine placing them in a mason jar next to your bed.

Like glowing time capsules,

They fill the jar like fairy lights.

They illuminate the night.

Just like these thoughts and memories illuminate your mind when you think of them.

These precious moments remind you that it is okay that the holidays may not be exactly the way you would like.

These tiny moments that bring you joy may inspire hope.

And if not hope,

Perhaps they may bring some curiosity to what comes next.

The unwritten mystery of your tomorrows may offer more than you can imagine right now.

And that's okay by giving them space to grow.

Free of expectations and judgement,

You may find yourself making choices and open to new opportunities.

You are doing your best.

And even when it does not seem like it,

Everyone around is doing the best they can,

Given their abilities at the time.

The best looks different to everyone,

And for now,

You may focus on what feels best to you.

Imagine you are in a lodge decorated for the season.

Burgreen vows line the wainscotting with twinkling ivory lights.

The room smells of fresh spruce from a wreath above the fire.

The space is comforting and familiar,

Yet at the same time new.

The ceiling is lofty and golden light pours through skylights.

A fire burns inside the brick walls of an old fireplace,

And a mahogany mantle above it is decked out with boughs of holly.

Long revered as symbols of protection and good luck,

The hearty shrub and red berries draw your attention to the mantle.

A snow globe sits in the heart of the mantle.

Surrounded by tall tapered candles and antique brass holders,

You lift the enchanting globe and study the serene village within.

The shiny black walnut base is heavy and smooth in the palm of your hand.

Your fingers come upon a golden latch that connects to a music box.

You spin it and it clicks with each turn until you release the latch and the music box plays a song that surprises you.

The song comforts you and takes you on a ride of joy-filled memories.

And as you ride these lovely feelings,

You consider how wonderful a song may be.

Connecting people from all walks of life to a ubiquitous sentiment,

Relatable to all humanity.

The scenery inside the glass orb evokes a sense of safety,

Warmth,

And love.

You feel less alone as you listen to the music and observe the glittering snowfall when you shake the globe.

No matter how many times the snow globe is shaken,

The townspeople and buildings depicted inside remain still,

Sturdy.

You settle in a comfortable oversized chair by the fire.

It contours around your body.

As you focus on the snow globe,

Clover honey-hued flames reflect on the glass,

Hypnotically causing your mind to drift into a reverie.

You imagine venturing inside the snow globe and exploring the village down Main Street.

You stroll around a skating pond where people of all ages glide and slip across the ice.

You come upon a holiday market that has a Dickensian feel where candles,

Scarves,

And sweaters are sold.

You explore a timeless world as you walk by storefront windows in pastel-hued buildings in the heart of the snowy village.

You inhale deeply,

Soothed by the clean mountain air.

The sounds of the wintry wonderland and the melody of the music box create a soothing soundtrack,

Not too loud or invasive.

They exist to simply remind you of this dreamy world.

Your intuition brings you to a door that leads to an apartment above the bustling shops.

You open it and ascend the stairs,

One by one,

Floating as if in a dream.

With each count,

You become more relaxed.

One,

Two,

Three,

Four,

Five,

Six.

You take in a deep breath and sigh as you continue to ascend.

Seven,

Eight,

Nine,

Ten,

Eleven,

Twelve.

You come to the door at the top of the stairs.

The door is a portal to a quiet place for healing.

A place where you may connect with your feelings and soothe them.

A place where you may be as connected to the holiday energy as you like.

You open the door into a room that is designed to meet your needs and preferences.

The interior is calming.

Perhaps it is a living room or bedroom you have most enjoyed in your life.

Perhaps it is a place your mind has invented.

Floor to ceiling multi-paned windows look out onto the market and picturesque wintry scene.

Warm,

Dry,

And safe within.

You settle on a piece of plush furniture.

In the room you hear the muted voices of villagers.

The sounds and activities of the holidays and all its chaos simmer down like a mold cider tempered by the safe walls that surround you.

This room and this experience create a memory you may return to at any point you need to reconnect with your inner peace.

You may see yourself tucked within this room,

Within a village,

Within a snow globe.

Surrounded by layers of comfort and protection.

Yet again you encounter two contrasting experiences at once.

The quietness of your solitude and the connection you feel from the ambient noise of the holidays.

With a single conscious breath in and out,

You may return to this imagined dreamlike wonderland where you feel both connected and safe.

Here you may feel independent,

Yet part of something bigger than yourself.

You cover yourself in a velvety blanket that you wrap snugly around you.

The soft fabric brushes against your face and smells like it just came from the dryer.

The ambient sounds of life outside are a tranquilizing soundtrack of sing-song voices and laughter with universal tones that go beyond language.

Gratitude warms your heart and courses through your veins with a soporific peace.

In your sleep,

You may connect to your needs for rest and your emotional needs as well.

Becoming more tired,

Nestled in this soothing wonderland,

You discover the perfect place to fall asleep.

Free of expectations,

Free of judgement,

Inside this protective globe,

You love and honor all parts of yourself.

You gift yourself compassion,

You gift yourself care,

You gift yourself love.

And in the safe place for sleep,

You are free to reimagine this season in the ways you would like to experience it.

Dreaming and even daydreaming are a form of planning.

And as you drift into your dreamscape,

You may connect with the holiday energy that you would most love to enjoy.

Protected,

Safe and sound.

You may let go of my voice and drift to sleep,

Finding peace,

Finding bliss,

Finding sleep.

It's time to dream away.

Good night.