For Holiday Stress
Ivy Griffin
Script for audio guided relaxation practice:
As you prepare for the onslaught of holiday cheer, I want you to sit with me here and just take a moment for yourself; to breathe, and to be. Slowly breathe in and out. And as you slowly breathe in I want you to call to mind a stress or worry on your shoulders. Maybe its the the time crunch of trying to get the house clean enough, maybe its the pressure of choosing the perfect gift, or saying the right thing to a in-law or family member who we just never quite jelled with. I want you to call to mind that worry and as you breathe in I want you to clench your fists, and as you breathe out I want you to imagine yourself letting that stress go. Allow it to wash away from you, imagine it rolling out with the tide. And we are going to breathe back in, and again as we breathe out we are going to unclench our hands, we are going to relax and we are going to release our holiday stress whatever it may be.
There is so much pressure on us to have it all together, to meet the societal expectation for this beautiful season of the year. And it can be not only overwhelming but extremely daunting, and at times unrealistic. And so even though you will have to move forward with handling the stressors I want you to find small moments for yourself to just breathe and be. And to hold for yourself the truth. That these stressors are temporary situations, that they will come and that they will also pass. And before we know it it will be the new year and there will be new things on the horizon for us. And so when you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed with stress I want you to remember that this is temporary, that this too shall pass, and with a little time and a little patience you will get to the other side. So when you’re overwhelmed just stop and even if it’s just for a few seconds take a few deep breaths in and a few deep breaths out. Because you’re worth it, and you deserve it and there is nothing like a little oxygen to bring grounded clarity to our minds
Happy Holidays, and wishing you the best.
With warm regards,
Thrive Therapy & Counseling