Hi there, and welcome. Today, I know many of you are carrying the weight of recent global uncertainties - tensions around international conflicts, economic pressures, and the ongoing sense of unpredictability that seems to permeate our world. I want you to know that this practice is a sanctuary, a gentle pause where you can release those burdens and reconnect with your inner calm.

Take a comfortable position - whether you're lying down, sitting, or nestled in your favorite chair. Allow your body to feel supported, like a leaf resting on a soft current of water. Close your eyes if that feels comfortable, and take a slow, deep breath in through your nose... and out through your mouth.

Today's practice is about creating a bridge between your waking awareness and the restorative realm of sleep. We'll explore a technique I call "Releasing the Day's Armor" - a mindful approach to letting go of mental and emotional tension that often disrupts our natural sleep rhythms.

Imagine your thoughts and experiences from today as delicate clouds. Each cloud carries a memory, a worry, an unresolved conversation. With each breath, visualize these clouds gently drifting away from the center of your mind. They don't need to be pushed or fought - simply observed and allowed to float past.

Notice any areas of tension in your body. Perhaps it's a tightness in your shoulders, a clenched jaw, or a knot in your stomach. Breathe softly into these spaces, sending waves of compassionate awareness. With each exhale, feel those muscles soften and release, like ice melting into warm water.

As these clouds drift and tensions melt, create a gentle invitation for rest. Imagine your body as a quiet landscape at twilight - soft, peaceful, welcoming the approaching darkness. Your breath becomes a smooth, rhythmic tide, washing away the remnants of the day.

In the final moments of our practice, set a tender intention. Tonight, you will sleep not as a battle to be won, but as a natural, nurturing process. Your body knows how to rest. Your mind knows how to surrender.

Thank you for showing up for yourself today. If this practice resonated with you, please subscribe to Sleep Soundly. We're here every day, offering a compassionate companion on your journey to restorative rest. Wishing you peaceful nights ahead.