Good morning! It's time to let your guard down.

Today is Day 2 of our 7-Day Cortisol Reset, and we are exploring the deep, restorative power of safety. We're learning how to quiet the "emergency" brain and give our bodies permission to truly rest.

In This Episode:

• The 'Threat' of Stillness: Why it feels hard to relax and how to overcome the "wired" feeling.

• The Rest Nest Meditation: A 5-minute heart-centered practice using our daily affirmation.

• The Power of Words: How ancient healing and modern neuroscience agree on the "medicine" of the spoken word.

A Message for Your Heart

I hope you've got your tea settled. Today, we're going a little deeper into our reset. Yesterday we found our roots, and today, we're going to give ourselves permission to actually lean back into them.

Have you ever noticed that even when you're finally sitting down, your mind is still running a marathon? That's because when our cortisol is high, our brain thinks "stillness" is dangerous. It thinks if we stop moving, something will catch up to us. Today, we're going to whisper a secret to our nervous system. We're going to use a simple affirmation to create a "rest nest" right where we are. We're teaching our bodies that it is okay to let the guard down.

This is day 2 of a 7-day meditation series, "The 7-Day Cortisol Reset," episodes 3500-3506.

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE - THE 20-MINUTE TECH-GAP

The Weekly Challenge: Wait exactly 20 minutes after waking up before you touch any digital device. Use that time to breathe, drink your tea, and stay in your "Sovereign Zone."

THIS WEEK'S MEDITATION JOURNEY

Day 1: VISUALIZATION:

CORTISOL RELEASEVisualize roots draining gray "stress energy" into the earth.

Day 2: AFFIRMATION:

"I am safe in this moment."

Day 3: THE BOX BREATH

Inhale 4, Hold 4, Exhale 4, Hold 4. (The Navy SEAL standard for lowering cortisol).

Day 4: APANA MUDRA

Thumb touches middle and ring fingers. Known as the "Digestion Mudra," it helps the body "process" and eliminate stress.

Day 5: THIRD (SOLAR PLEXUS - MANIPURA) CHAKRA

Focusing on the "gut feeling" area where we store stress-tension.

Day 6: CORTISOL DETOX FLOW MEDITATION:

Combining the week's techniques

Day 7: WEEKLY REVIEW MEDITATION:

Closure with a review of the week's highs and lows.

SHARE YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEDITATORS

Let's connect and inspire each other! Please share a little about how meditation has helped you by reaching out to me at [email protected] or better yet -- direct message me on https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om. We'd love to hear about your meditation ritual!

WAYS TO SUPPORT THE DAILY MEDITATION PODCAST

SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode. Consistency is the KEY to a successful meditation ritual.

SHARE the podcast with someone who could use a little extra support.

I'd be honored if you left me a podcast review. If you do, please email me at [email protected] and let me know a little about yourself and how meditation has helped you. I'd love to share your journey to inspire fellow meditators on the podcast!

All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to [email protected].

FOR DAILY EXTRA SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE PODCAST

Each day's meditation techniques are shared at:

sip.and.om Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om/ sip and om Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/

SIP AND OM MEDITATION APP

Looking for a little more support? If you're ready for a more in-depth meditation experience, allow Mary to guide you in daily 30-minute guided meditations on the Sip and Om meditation app. Give it a whirl for 7-days free! Receive access to 3,000+ 30-minute guided meditations customized around a weekly theme to help you manage emotions. Receive a Clarity Journal and a Slow Down Guide customized for each weekly theme.

2-Week's Free Access on iOS

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sip-and-om/id1216664612?platform=iphone&preserveScrollPosition=true#platform/iphone

All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to [email protected] go of repetitive negative thoughts.

Music composed by Christopher Lloyd Clark licensed by RoyaltyFreeMusic.com, and also by musician Greg Keller.