I got a comment recently from a listener named Kathleen. She asked if I'd consider doing an episode focused on affirmations. You know, those positive statements that help build us up and quiet some of the negative self-talk that keeps us awake at night. And I thought, Kathleen, that's a really good idea. Thank you. And I know I've used affirmations before, but tonight I wanted to create something specifically designed to restore your confidence and help you wake up feeling ready to take on your day. And naturally, that got me thinking about the moon. And I know I talk about the moon a lot, but there's something I realized recently that I find kind of interesting. Moonlight is actually not the moon's light at all. The moon doesn't create its own light. What we're seeing when we look up at the moon is sunlight, that same bright, energizing light that wakes us each morning, but it's being reflected off the moon's surface. It's traveled 93 million miles from the sun and then bounced off the moon and traveled back down to us. So by the time it reaches us as moonlight, that solar energy has been transformed. It's been filtered through space and time into something gentler, something softer. The same light that energizes us and gives us confidence during the day becomes this peaceful, silvery glow at night. And tonight we're going to let that gentle moonlight release all your tension and weariness, filling you with calm energy while you rest. And then when you're completely relaxed, I'm going to share affirmations with you. Truths about your worth, your strength, your capabilities, things we all need to hear, especially on those nights when we doubt ourselves. And even if you fall asleep before we finish, which is very possible, these words will stay with you, working on your subconscious mind while you rest. And when morning comes and you open your eyes to actual sunlight streaming through the window, you'll feel ready, restored, equipped to face whatever your day brings. But first, as always, please make sure you're somewhere safe to fall asleep. This episode is designed to guide you into deep rest. You want to be in your comfortable bed and not anywhere you need to stay alert. Now, let's prepare your body for rest. First, just settle in. Maybe you need to turn on your side or shift your pillow slightly. Perhaps adjust the blanket so it's covering you just right. And take your time. There's no hurry. Once you're settled, I want you to simply notice your breathing. You don't need to change anything yet. Just pay attention. Where do you feel your breath most? In your chest? Your nose? Your belly? Just observe it for a moment. This breath that's been with you all day without you even thinking about it. And now we're going to work with the breath intentionally. We'll breathe together using a specific pattern. Breathing in for a count of four. Holding for a count of four. And then exhaling for a count of six. That longer exhale is what tells your nervous system to relax. Let's try it together. Breathe in, two, three, four, hold, two, three, four, and then exhale, two, three, four, five, six. And with each of these breaths, fresh oxygen is flooding into your body. Let's do that again. In, two, three, four, hold, two, three, four, and then out, two, three, four, five, six. As you relax, feel your brainwaves slowly shifting from alert beta waves to the slower alpha waves of deep relaxation. Your muscles are receiving the signal to release their tension, to let go of the day. Now continue this pattern on your own for a few more breaths. In for four. Hold for four. And out for six. The simple act of conscious breathing is one of the most powerful tools you have. Now, I want you to imagine the night outside of your window. Somewhere beyond those walls, the moon is shining. It's hanging in the dark sky, that pale disc that reflects the sun's light back to earth. Maybe it's a full moon tonight, round and luminous, or maybe it's a crescent. Delicate as the edge of a seashell. And that moonlight is finding its way to you, even if you can't see it with your eyes. It's there in your room, particles of light that have traveled from the sun, bounced off the moon, and made their way through your window. Now, I want you to imagine it beginning to gather near your feet. Picture it pooling there, soft and luminous, shimmering slightly as if it has substance. It's pleasantly warm, comforting. Feel this luminous, liquid moonlight beginning to rise slowly. As it touches your feet, they become completely relaxed. Any soreness, any tiredness, the moon dissolves it away. Your feet have carried you all day long. And now, they can rest. Doing this perfectly, just by being here. Just by breathing. You're giving your body exactly what it needs. The moonlight flows up over your ankles and your calves. Feel those muscles softening, releasing. The light moves up to your knees. Those hardworking hinges that carry you throughout your day. The soft cartilage cushioning your knee joints can finally rest now. No longer bearing your weight. Feel the moonlight soothing any inflammation, any soreness, bringing relief to those faithful joints. The warm moonlight rises to your thighs. Those strong muscles becoming loose and heavy. This heaviness is good. It means you're doing this exactly right. The moonlight continues its journey upward. Pooling now around your lower back. Any knots of worry or stress simply melting away as the light touches them. Your body is healing itself right now. In this very moment, continue to breathe slowly. In and out. The healing light flows across your chest. Your heart, that tireless muscle that has been contracting and releasing every second of every day, is finally slowing to its peaceful nighttime rhythm. Your lungs are expanding more fully now. Using parts of the lung tissue that don't get used during shallow daytime breathing. This deep breathing brings fresh oxygen to tissues that have been waiting for it. Everything in your body is working together to bring you peace. The moonlight moves across your shoulders. Those shoulders that carry so much during your day. Feel them dropping away from your ears. All the weight you've been carrying. You can set it down now. The moonlight flows down your arms, all the way to your hands and fingers. Your hand contains more nerve endings than almost any other part of your body. It's constantly sending information to your brain. Now those nerves can finally quiet. Feel the small bones in your fingers. 27 in each hand. All settling into perfect alignment as you let go completely. Your hands can simply be with nothing to hold. Nothing to do. The moonlight touches your face now. Feel those tiny muscles around your eyes letting go. Your forehead becoming smooth and calm. Your entire face can rest. You don't need to hold any expression. You can just be. Your entire body is now bathed in this healing moonlight. Every cell is relaxing. Continue breathing slowly and naturally. Feel how heavy your body has become. How deeply relaxed. The moonlight has filled you with calm energy. Dissolving weariness. Releasing tension. And you are ready now to receive the truth you need to hear. That you are enough. Exactly as you are. Not when you lose weight. Not when you get that promotion. And not when you fix that thing about yourself you don't like. Right now. In this moment. You are complete. And you are never too much. If someone makes you feel that you need to dim your light. Don't shrink yourself. Or apologize for your enthusiasm. Your sensitivity. Or your passion. That's about them. Not you. The right people will never ask you to be smaller. There is a place for you in this world. Exactly as you are. The universe doesn't make mistakes. Your particular combination of quirks, strengths, and gifts exist for a reason. You don't owe anyone an explanation. For your boundaries. When you say no. When you choose yourself. You don't need to justify that with an explanation. No is a complete sentence. And your well-being is reason enough. Small acts of kindness. Ripple outward in ways you'll never know. That moment you held the door. That you listened to someone's story. That you sent a thoughtful message. Those things matter. You're making the world better. In quiet. Uncounted ways. You're allowed to be tired. The world is exhausting right now. The pace is unsustainable. The demands are endless. The problems overwhelming. Your tiredness is not weakness. It's a reasonable response. To difficult circumstances. If you're feeling sad. Or beaten down right now. This will pass. Emotions are weather. Not climate. What you're feeling is temporary. Even when it feels permanent. And you've survived every difficult day so far. You're resilient. Think of everything you've already survived. Losses. Disappointments. And heartbreak. You're still here. You're still trying. That's not luck. That's strength. People who hurt you. Are often people. Who have been hurt themselves. And that doesn't excuse their behavior. But understanding it. Can help you. Release it. Hurt people. Hurt people. So you can see them with compassion. While still protecting yourself from them. You deserve wonderful things. Not because you've earned them. But because you're alive. And every life deserves moments of joy. Joy. Love. Beauty. And peace. Don't wait until you feel worthy. Claim the good things now. The things you dream about. Can actually happen. Maybe not all of them. Just the way you imagine. But some version of your dreams. Is very possible. Dreams don't appear in your heart. Randomly. They're there because some part of you knows. You're capable of reaching for them. Almost everyone struggles with sleep sometimes. You're not broken. Because you're lying here awake. Sleep difficulties are incredibly common. Especially in times of stress. You're not alone in this, even though it feels lonely in the dark. Right now, even if you're not fully asleep, rest itself is healing you. Your heart rate has slowed. Your breathing has deepened. Your muscles have released. Your nervous system is calmer than it was an hour ago. This matters. This is not wasted time. You are doing exactly what your body needs. Now, as these truths settle into your mind, take a moment to notice your body. Feel how heavy you've become, how deeply you've sunk into your bed. Your heartbeat is calm. Everything in your body is working together now to carry you into sleep. Let yourself feel grateful for what you have in this moment. You have a safe place to sleep tonight. Right now, somewhere in the world, someone is dreaming of having what you have - a roof over their head, a bed to lie in, a quiet place where they can close their eyes without fear. You have this. You are safe here. If you can move your body freely, without pain, you are blessed with a gift that many people long for. If your body hurts, be grateful that it's still carrying you, still trying, still working to heal itself even now as you rest. And if you are loved, truly loved, even by one person who sees you and accepts you as you are -. You are truly rich. Take a breath and feel this gratitude washing over you. Not as something you have to manufacture or force, just as a gentle recognition of what you have.  Tomorrow morning, you'll wake feeling more rested, more restored, more ready to face your day. You'll feel more confident, more certain of your own worth. But right now, in this moment, there's nothing to do except drift. Let sleep come in its own time, in its own way. You've done everything right. You've relaxed your body, quieted your mind, opened yourself to rest. Now you can simply let go. I’m Suzanne. This is your ticket to snoozeville. Sleep now. Sleep deeply. Sleep well.