Welcome back, friend. I'm Julia Cartwright, and I'm so glad you're here. You know, it's mid-November, and if you're anything like most people I talk to, you're probably feeling that particular squeeze—that moment where the year's momentum collides with the holidays approaching, and suddenly your nervous system is doing overtime. So today, we're going to do something really special together. We're going to practice what I call the "Reset and Release," and I promise you, five minutes from now, you'll feel noticeably lighter.

Let's get comfortable. You can sit or lie down—whatever feels supportive for your body right now. Go ahead and find that spot. Notice your weight settling into whatever's holding you. There's something beautiful about that, isn't there? You're literally supported right now, even if your mind doesn't feel settled yet.

Now, let's begin with three intentional breaths. Breathe in through your nose for a count of four. Hold it for a moment. Then exhale through your mouth like you're fogging up a mirror—slow and audible. Do that two more times. Notice how that exhale creates space inside you. That's what we're cultivating today.

Here's the main practice. I want you to imagine your stress as clouds passing through a clear sky. Your nervous system is that sky—vast, unchanging, and fundamentally okay. The clouds come and go, but the sky remains. As you breathe, you're not trying to blow the clouds away. You're simply watching them drift through. Notice where you feel tension in your body right now. Maybe it's your shoulders, your jaw, your chest. Breathe into that space with curiosity, not judgment. On each exhale, imagine that cloud becoming a little lighter, a little thinner. You're not fighting it; you're just allowing it to move through you naturally.

Continue this for the next few minutes. Breathing in, acknowledging the cloud. Breathing out, letting it drift. If your mind wanders—and it will, because that's what minds do—just gently bring it back. That's not failure; that's the whole practice.

When life hands you stress today, remember this: you're the sky, not the storm. You're the solid ground, not the shifting sand. Carry that knowing with you into your day.

Thank you so much for spending these five minutes with me on Daily Mindfulness: 5-Minute Meditations for Stress Relief. Please subscribe so you never miss our next practice. You've got this. I'll see you tomorrow.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI