12 Days Of Christmas Day 1

In the quietness of winter, we remember that rest is not a reward for productivity—it is the foundation of a life well-lived.

Welcome to Day 1 of our 12 Days of Christmas meditation series. Give yourself 5 minutes of peace each morning—a small oasis of calm in the midst of the holiday rush.

Today's meditation is about giving yourself permission to pause. In a season that tells us to do more, buy more, and be more, this practice invites you to simply BE.

Transcript

Welcome.

Find a comfortable position,

Whether seated in a chair with your feet flat on the floor or lying down if that feels better for your body today.

There's no right or wrong way to be here,

Only your way.

Gently close your eyes or soften your gaze toward the floor.

Take a moment to arrive in the present moment.

Let's begin with three deep breaths together.

Breathe in slowly through your nose and out through your mouth with a sigh.

Again,

Breathe in and release.

One more time,

Drawing in fresh energy and letting go of anything you don't need right now.

Now,

Allow your breath to return to its natural rhythm.

You don't need to control it,

Just notice it.

The gentle rise and fall of your chest.

The soft sensation of air moving in and out.

I want you to know something important.

You have permission to pause.

You have permission to rest.

You have permission to say not right now to the endless demands of the season.

Your worth is not measured by how much you accomplish today.

Your value doesn't increase when you cross off every item on your list.

You are enough,

Exactly as you are in this moment.

As we breathe together,

Imagine that with each inhale,

You're drawing in permission.

Permission to be gentle with yourself.

Permission to honor your needs.

Permission to rest without guilt.

And with each exhale,

Release the pressure,

Release the shoulds,

Release the belief that you need to be everything for everyone.

Notice how your body feels right now.

Perhaps there's a softening in your shoulders,

A releasing in your jaw,

A quieting in your mind.

This is what permission feels like in your body.

You've lived long enough to know that the most important moments are often the quietest ones.

Not the grand gestures,

But the small pauses.

The cup of tea savored slowly.

The sunset noticed.

This breath,

Right here,

Right now.

Continue breathing naturally,

Knowing that even these few minutes of pause are a radical act of self-compassion.

As we prepare to close,

Take one more deep breath in and out.

Begin to deepen your breath.

Wiggle your fingers and toes.

When you're ready,

Gently open your eyes.

Carry this permission with you today.

You are allowed to pause whenever you need to.

This is your reminder.