The evening hours often arrive with an unwelcome companion—a mind still buzzing with the day's events, shoulders tight with tension, and thoughts already drifting to tomorrow's challenges. As the sun sets, many of us find ourselves caught in what author Lynne Twist calls "the reverie of lack," that persistent whisper telling us we haven't done enough, aren't enough, don't have enough.

But what if you could learn to consciously release the day's tensions and reconnect with yourself before sleep? In this third episode of our meditation series, we explore a gentle yet powerful evening practice designed to help you let go of the day's stress and prepare for restful sleep.

Discover how to mindfully guide your thoughts, choosing where to place your attention rather than being carried away by mental chatter. Discover a beautiful visualization practice where each moment of your day becomes a bubble, released back to the universe with every exhale. Experience the profound shift that comes from consciously naming and releasing the thoughts vying for your attention.

This evening meditation weaves together practical stress management tools with a sense of empowerment over your thoughts, helping you create a peaceful bedtime routine that sets you up for deep, restorative sleep. The practice builds on our previous episodes about morning gratitude and midday resets, completing your toolkit for maintaining mindfulness throughout your entire day.

Our meditation music in this episode is the wild, diverse and secluded beaches of Hawaii as recorded by Nick McMahan. The ocean waves help to carry away the stress of the day.

Take these few minutes for yourself to experience this calming meditation—press play and feel yourself gently releasing the day, one breath at a time.

Sign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations and nature soundscapes each week, creative musings, and more.

Thank you to Nick McMahan for today’s nature field recordings, sound design, and editing.

Follow Nick’s audio projects: https://www.nickcmcmahan.com

Thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find her at: https://www.instagram.com/brianna_podcastpro/

Watch on YouTube, Make a donation, or learn more about my free offerings and live classes by visiting

merylarnett.com

youtube.com/@ourmindfulnature

This podcast explores meditation, mental health and the power of connection, offering guidance for caregivers, healers, and therapists facing compassion fatigue, burnout, and other mental health struggles through self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. With a focus on anxiety, depression, and overwhelm, each episode provides tools like meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding to cultivate clarity and reduce stress. Listeners can also experience nature-inspired guided meditations, designed to bring peace and balance in times of distress.