Take a slow breath in,
And gently exhale.
If you're here tonight,
It's likely because your mind feels a little loud,
Your body a little restless,
Or your heart slightly unsettled.
Nothing is wrong with you,
Your nervous system is simply trying to protect you.
Tonight,
We're not going to fight anxiety,
We are going to soothe it.
Anxiety at night happens because the world gets quiet,
And when everything slows down,
Your nervous system finally has space to process what it's been holding all day.
But right now,
In this moment,
You are safe.
You're lying down.
You're breathing.
You are supported.
Let's remind your body of that.
Place one hand over your chest,
And the other one over your belly.
Inhale through the nose for 4,
3,
2,
1.
Soft exhale through the mouth for 6,
5,
4,
3,
2,
1.
Inhale 3,
2,
1.
Exhale 5,
4,
3,
2,
1.
Inhale 3,
2,
1.
Exhale 5,
4,
3,
2,
1.
You can breathe normally now,
And come to this type of breathing whenever you want.
Longer exhale than inhale signals safety to the vagus nerve.
Imagine now,
Your nervous system like a dimmer switch.
Right now,
It may be slightly turned up.
We are not forcing it down,
We are gently lowering it.
With every exhale,
Feel your shoulders soften.
With every breath out,
Feel your jaw unclench.
Let your tongue rest.
Let your eyes sink back.
You are not responsible for tomorrow right now.
Tomorrow will handle itself.
Right now,
Your only job is to rest.
Anxiety often whispers,
What if?
Tonight,
We answer,
Not now.
What if something goes wrong?
Not now.
What if I forget something?
Not now.
What if I can't sleep?
That's ok.
Rest is already happening.
Even if sleep takes time,
Your nervous system is recalibrating.
Every slow breath is teaching your body how to feel safe again.
In one more slow breath in and release.
Your body knows how to sleep.
Your nervous system knows how to reset.
Let the breath become natural now.
Allow all of your experience to be just as it is.
And if this practice helped you tonight,
You can return to it anytime you need reassurance.
Let yourself drift.
