Christmas Day Calm The Holiday Reset (For When It’s All Too Much)

Hi there, and Merry Christmas. I'm so glad you've pressed play today. Whether you are listening to this first thing in the morning before the house wakes up, or you've stolen away for ten minutes of quiet in the middle of the chaos, I want to welcome you here. There is so much pressure on this day.

The pressure to be happy, the pressure to make it perfect, the pressure to be on.

So before we do anything else, I want you to know this. You don't have to perform here. You can drop the mask. If you are feeling joyful, that's wonderful.

But if you are feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, lonely, or just tired, that is allowed too.

You are safe here. Let's take a moment, just for you. Wherever you are, just find a comfortable position. If you can close your eyes, please do.

If you are in a place where you can't, just soften your gaze to a single point on the floor.

Notice your shoulders. They may be up by your ears, holding the tension of the day. On your next out breath, I just want you to drop them. Go on, let them fall.

Notice your jaw is it clenched? Are you holding backwards or holding a smile? Let your jaw hang loose, slightly part your teeth. Notice your belly.

Are you holding it in? Let it go soft. Let it expand. We spend so much of today holding it together.

For the next few moments, you have permission to fall apart just a little bit, to soften, to surrender, to gravity. I want you to imagine a snow globe when it's shaken. The snow is everywhere, chaotic, swirling, busy. That might feel like your mind right now.

That might feel like your kitchen or your family room. But I want you to notice a centre of the globe. When the snow is swirling at its fastest, the very centre point is still always completely still. You have that stillness inside you.

It's always there. It always has been bright beneath the noise. Let's find it with the breath. Take a deep breath in for a count of 4, 2, 3, 4.

And exhale slowly for a count of 6, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Imagine the outbreath is the snow settling. Imagine for 4, 3, 2, 1, out for 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

The noise of the day is just the weather. You are the sky. The weather changes, the storm passes, but the sky remains. You remain.

Breathe with me again. In 2, 3, 4. Hold out to 3, 4, 5, 6.

And let your breathing find its own rhythm. And know that right now you and I were connected. Through the wonders of the modern digital age, we found each other. In the chaos of this special day.

Now allow yourself to relax, unwind and find peace, sanctuary within this moment.

As the tension drifts away, let's stay with that slow steady breath.

And allow these words to settle into your mind. You don't need to force yourself to believe them. Just let them be true for this moment. Repeat and imagine them in your mind if you wish.

I am allowed to take breaks. I do not have to be perfect to be loved.

I am doing enough. My peace is more important than my performance.

I can handle this moment and then the next.

If the noise of the day tries to creep back in, the cooking timers, the conversations, the expectations, just acknowledge them and say, "Not right now, just for this minute.

I am here." You do not have to be perfect to please. Just be who you are. Now, as we prepare to go back to the day, I want you to place one hand on your heart, just like we've practiced before.

Feel the warmth. That is your anchor. You can take this feeling with you. When you walk back out that door, you don't have to pick up all the heavy luggage that you just put down.

You can move a little slower. You can breathe a little deeper. If you start to feel that buzz rising again later today, just touch your hand to your heart. Take one long out breath and remember this quiet center.

Now, feel the in breath, the shifting subtle sensations, pausing between the in and the out and with every mindful, slow out breath, regain control and live your life for you.

Gently open your eyes. Whiggle your fingers and toes. You are doing a great job, truly. For my Christmas gift, be gentle with yourself today.

Have a peaceful Christmas, my friend, wherever you are, whatever you are doing. Never give up, on you. We are all unique. We all have our own paths.

Life was never meant to be fair, no matter what we believed when we were younger. But you can bounce back stronger, more positive and so my Christmas gift to you is simply hope.

Love all that you are. Don't allow the negativity of others in your past. Stop you. Take care.

Smile often. Merry Christmas and be kind. [Music] [Music]