Relax Into Sleep

On this episode of stillness,

Finding your way to restful sleep.

However you are,

Wherever you are,

Make yourself comfortable.

However you are lying or resting,

See if there's something you can do to make yourself 5 to 10% more comfortable.

Take a big breath in and let it go.

Take another big breath in.

Hold it in and slowly let it go.

Take one more big breath in.

Hold it in.

And as if you were letting your breath settle like dust around you,

Slowly exhale.

Now watch the slow and soft rise and fall of your chest with your breath.

And decide to only move into comfort,

But remain as still as possible.

Allow your nervous system and your mind to settle,

To relax,

To grow heavy.

Notice the touch of air on your skin.

Notice the ground on which you are resting.

Notice the sounds around you.

Notice the smell of the air and the taste in your mouth.

And then watch.

Watch as every time you exhale,

Your skin begins to relax and melt towards the earth.

Watch your skin begin to spread out like water.

Notice your muscles.

Imagine the muscles of your body hanging off of your bones like hammocks.

Let your muscles turn into mush.

Let them rest in the casing of your skin.

Let them rest into the surface you're sleeping on or resting against.

And then imagine your skeleton,

Your bones.

Imagine them being as heavy as lead and sinking into the earth.

Feel the weight of your toes,

Your heels.

Feel the weight of your left knee and your right knee.

Feel the weight of your upper thigh bone,

This huge,

Strong bone.

Let it sink closer to the earth,

Followed by your hip bone.

Notice the weight of your palms,

Your right thumb,

Your right index finger.

Notice the weight of your left thumb and your left index finger.

Let your elbows be heavy.

Feel the weight of your shoulder blades and let your rib cage rest into the nest of your shoulder blades.

As you breathe and your rib cage expands,

Watch your collarbone and your breastbone move with each inhale and exhale.

And then relax your jaw.

Relax the back of your tongue.

Relax the muscles around your nostrils and the muscles around your eyes.

Relax your eyelids,

Let them release any tension,

So much so that your eyeballs feel heavy and your ears begin to slide down your face.

Notice the weight of your skull,

Of your head.

Find the part of your head that is absolutely heaviest.

Release any tension left between your brow or in your eyes into that spot that's absolutely heaviest on your skull and into the ground beneath you.

Let all of the tension drain from your body.

Imagine whatever you're resting on absorbing any tension in your body as if it was pulling it out of you,

As if whatever you're resting on gave you permission to completely relax.

Now watch your breath as your body feels so heavy.

Relaxed and relaxed,

Maybe even rested.

Watch the smoothness of your breath.

Your soft inhales and your soft exhales.

Watch how you grow heavier and heavier and heavier as you relax all the muscles,

The bones,

The fibers,

The tissues in your body.

Watch as your thoughts melt away to only your breath.

Now as you continue to breathe,

I invite you to begin to count your breath down from 10.

Every time you inhale,

Count your breath and every time you exhale,

Count your breath down from 10.

Now as you continue to breathe,

I invite you to begin to count your breath down from 10.

Every time you inhale,

Count your breath and every time you exhale,

Count your breath down from 10.

Every time you inhale,

Count your breath and every time you exhale,

Count your breath down from 10.

Now as you continue to breathe,

I invite you to begin to count your breath down from 10.

Every time you inhale,

Count your breath down from 10.

Every time you exhale,

Count your breath down from 10.

Now I'm going to begin to recite some positive affirmations.

Do not hold on to the words.

Just let them pass through you like your breath.

Just allow them to rest in your skin for just a moment and then let go.

I am allowed to take up space.

My past is not a reflection of my future.

I am smart enough to make my own decisions.

I am in control of how I react to others.

I choose peace.

I am courageous and stand up for myself.

I deserve to have joy in my life.

I am worthy of love.

I approve of myself and love myself deeply.

My body is healthy and I am grateful.

I am more at ease every day.

I am calm.

I am happy.

I am content.

My life is a gift and I appreciate everything I have.

I surround myself with positive people who will help bring out the best in me.

I don't need someone else to feel happiness.

I am allowed to take the time to heal.

My imperfections make me unique.

I am allowed to make mistakes and they don't make up my whole story.

I choose not to criticize myself or others around me.

My potential to succeed is limitless.

Difficult times are part of my journey and allow me to appreciate the good.

I forgive those who have hurt me.

I am in charge of my life and no one will dictate my path besides me.

I am doing my best and that is enough.

I have the power to create change.

I know exactly what to do to achieve success.

I choose to be proud of myself and the things I choose to do.

I will not compare myself to strangers.

I am enough.

I let go of all that no longer serves me.

I love myself fully,

Including the way I look.

My life becomes richer as I get older.

I can absolutely do anything I put my mind to.

I attract money easily into my life.

My life is full of amazing opportunities that are ready for me to step into.

I am free to create the life I desire.

I am open to new adventures in my life.

I am bold,

Beautiful,

And brilliant.

My body shape is perfect in the way it's intended to be.

When I allow my light to shine,

I unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

No amount of guilt can change the past and no amount of worry can change the future.

To make small steps toward big goals is progress.

Negative thoughts only have the power I allow them.

I can choose to make my curses my blessings.

I am sublime and I am worthy.

I am love and I am loved.