Hello, friend. I'm Julia Cartwright, and I'm so glad you're here. Welcome to Mindful Mornings, where we start your day with peace and clarity. Today is December 26th, and I know what you might be feeling right now. The holiday rush has just passed, and there's this strange, disorienting quiet. Maybe you're bouncing between relief and exhaustion. Maybe you're staring at your to-do list for 2025 and feeling a little overwhelmed already. That's exactly why we're here together, right now. Let's ground you before anything else claims your attention.

So find yourself in a comfortable seat, somewhere quiet if you can. Feet on the ground, spine naturally tall but not rigid. You're not here to be perfect. You're here to be present. That's all.

Let's take three intentional breaths together. Breathe in slowly through your nose for a count of four. Hold it gently for a count of four. Now exhale through your mouth for a count of six. One more time. In for four, hold for four, and out for six. Good. Already, your nervous system is getting the message that you're safe.

Now, I want you to imagine your mind as the surface of a still lake on an early morning. It's quiet. It's clear. But as thoughts bubble up—and they will—imagine them as ripples on that water. You're not pushing them away. You're just watching them expand and fade. They don't belong to you. They're just passing through.

As you sit here, notice five things you can physically sense. The weight of your body in the chair. The temperature of the air on your skin. The texture beneath your hands. The subtle sounds around you. Maybe birds. Maybe silence. This is your anchor. This is what's real and true right now, in this moment.

Spend the next couple of minutes just being with these sensations. Breathing naturally. Watching your thoughts like clouds moving across a wide sky. You don't need to change anything. Just observe. Just breathe.

As we close, carry this feeling with you. When the day gets hectic—and it might—pause for just ten seconds. Feel your feet on the ground. Take one conscious breath. That's your reset button. You've got this.

Thank you so much for spending these precious minutes with me on Mindful Mornings. Your commitment to starting your day with intention matters more than you know. Please subscribe and join me tomorrow for another guided practice. Take care of yourself out there.

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