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Turns out Mint mobile.com. Hello, it's Eric

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welcoming you to another relaxing episode

2:00

episode of Listen to Sleep.

2:03

Tonight I'm going to try

2:05

something a little different. I

2:09

just love being both

2:11

your bedtime storyteller and

2:13

your mindfulness guide. And

2:16

I like trying new things, so

2:19

tonight we're going to

2:22

begin with a soothing bedtime story

2:25

that's inspired by the

2:27

gentle transformative power of

2:30

surrendering to life's

2:33

unknowns. Then we'll finish

2:35

with a mindfulness meditation to

2:37

help you deeply integrate the

2:39

lessons of the story as

2:42

you drift off into a peaceful

2:44

slumber. I'm

2:47

here to help you sleep better at

2:49

night and find more peace

2:51

during the day. And I

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of. There's a

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link to get more information or to join us.

4:00

Join us in the show notes. Let's

4:11

take a deep breath in

4:16

and out, just

4:19

letting go of the day,

4:22

feeling the weight of gravity

4:24

pulling you deep down into

4:26

the mattress. And

4:31

another deep breath in and

4:36

out. Nothing

4:40

to do, nowhere to go,

4:42

no one to be.

4:46

This is your time, quiet

4:48

time. And

4:51

one more deep breath in with me.

4:56

And out. If

5:02

you get tired during the

5:05

story and just want to

5:07

drift off before the meditation,

5:09

that's totally okay. The

5:17

oceans embrace a

5:20

path to peace and

5:22

surrender. Clara

5:26

felt the weight of the

5:28

world on her shoulders, the

5:32

bustling city life, the

5:35

constant demands of her job,

5:38

and the endless noise

5:40

had drained her spirit. Every

5:45

day felt like a battle

5:47

she was losing. She

5:50

longed for a break, a

5:53

chance to breathe and

5:55

find herself again. One

5:58

evening, while she was in the water, she was in the water. Shorting through

6:01

old family photographs, she

6:04

found a picture of

6:06

her great uncle's lighthouse. She

6:10

remembered visiting him as a

6:12

child, the serenity

6:14

of the island, and

6:17

the comforting light of the

6:19

lighthouse guiding ships through

6:21

the night. She

6:25

knew she needed a change, so

6:29

Clara picked up the phone and

6:31

called her great uncle to ask

6:33

if she might be able to

6:36

come for a visit. He

6:39

was delighted to hear from her

6:42

and told her to come and

6:44

stay as long as she liked,

6:48

so she took a short

6:50

leave of absence from work, booked

6:53

a ticket on the ferry, and

6:56

a few days later she

6:58

was on her way. The

7:02

journey to the island

7:04

was long but peaceful,

7:07

the sound of the waves and the

7:09

scent of the sea gradually

7:11

replacing the noise and

7:14

stress of city life.

7:18

When Clara arrived, her

7:21

great uncle greeted her with a

7:23

big smile and a warm hug.

7:27

He was a wise and

7:29

gentle old man, living

7:32

a life of serene solitude

7:34

by the sea. Like

7:38

his lighthouse, he

7:40

stood tall and proud, a

7:44

beacon of hope and guidance.

7:48

She felt an immediate sense

7:50

of peace and belonging, something

7:53

she hadn't experienced In

7:56

far too long. Clara.

8:01

Her great uncle said. I'm

8:04

so glad you came!

8:07

After hearing your story I

8:09

was sure that the lighthouse

8:12

would help you find the

8:14

pass through your challenges. This.

8:17

Place with as a way

8:19

of showing us what we

8:22

need to see. Clara.

8:26

Felt a sense of calm

8:28

loss over her as she

8:30

stepped in to the lighthouse.

8:32

More. Than ready to

8:34

embark on this journey

8:37

of discovery and healing.

8:40

The. Walls were lined with

8:43

books. And the

8:45

air was filled with the scent

8:47

of salt and old paper. Her.

8:50

Great uncle lived her

8:52

too. Cozy room with

8:55

a large window overlooking

8:57

the sea. That

9:00

evening. As they sat

9:02

on the porch watching the

9:04

sunset. Clara. Sued

9:07

her struggles with her great uncle.

9:10

He listened patiently. Nodding

9:13

and understanding. Race

9:16

in the cities can be

9:19

overwhelming. But. Sometimes

9:21

all we need is

9:24

a change of perspective

9:27

seer. You can find

9:29

that. The.

9:32

Next morning Claire woke to

9:34

the sound of sea gulls

9:36

and the soft lapping of

9:38

way of against the sure.

9:42

She felt more rested and

9:44

she had in months. She.

9:47

Decided to explore her

9:49

new temporary home. polite,

9:53

House was a

9:55

labyrinth of narrow

9:57

staircases, cozy nooks,

9:59

and. Large windows

10:01

offering stunning views of

10:03

the see. How.

10:06

She wandered. She found

10:08

an old leather bound

10:10

notebook tucked away on

10:12

a dusty south and

10:14

the library. Curious.

10:19

Clara. Opened it, And

10:21

discovered it belonged to her

10:24

great uncle. The.

10:26

Notebook was filled with

10:29

reflections on mindfulness, balance,

10:32

and the art of

10:34

surrendering to life's journey.

10:38

Each entry held a new

10:41

piece of wisdom. Together.

10:44

They. Were a gentle guide

10:47

to finding peace and

10:49

purpose. For.

10:52

Great uncle found her

10:54

reading at and smiled.

10:57

Ah see who found

10:59

my old notebook? Those

11:03

are the lessons I've learned

11:05

over a lifetime. They've.

11:08

Helped me find peace and

11:10

balance. Much you like

11:12

to learn more. Clear.

11:15

I nodded eagerly. Her.

11:18

Great Uncle began with

11:20

the first lesson on

11:22

mindfulness. Teaching. Her

11:24

to be present and observe.

11:27

Without. Judgement. They

11:30

sat together by the window. Watching.

11:33

The waves and practicing

11:35

mindful breathing. Clara

11:39

felt a deep sense

11:41

of calm and presence.

11:43

Something. She hadn't experienced

11:46

in quite a long time.

11:50

Throughout. The day. Clara.

11:53

Immersed herself in The

11:55

Notebooks teachings, She.

11:57

learned about the importance of

11:59

be being gentle, curious,

12:03

and compassionate, letting

12:05

go of the illusion of

12:08

control and

12:10

embracing the unknown parts of

12:12

our journey. Her

12:15

great-uncle shared stories of

12:18

his own experiences, of

12:21

how he had learned to

12:23

find peace in the midst

12:25

of chaos and uncertainty. And

12:29

Clara began to see her own

12:31

struggles in a new light, understanding

12:35

that they were a part

12:37

of her journey, not

12:40

simply obstacles to be

12:42

overcome. Over

12:46

the next few days, Clara

12:49

practiced the mindfulness exercises

12:52

her great-uncle had shared.

12:56

They walked along the shore,

12:58

breathing in the salty air

13:01

and feeling the sand beneath their

13:03

feet. Her

13:06

great-uncle talked about the

13:08

balance between masculine and

13:10

feminine energies, explaining

13:13

how both were essential

13:15

for a harmonious life.

13:19

Life is about balance,

13:22

he said. Just like

13:24

the sea is both calm and

13:28

powerful, we

13:30

must find the balance

13:32

within ourselves. It's

13:35

about embracing both strength

13:38

and vulnerability, action

13:41

and stillness.

13:46

Clara found these teachings

13:48

deeply resonant. She

13:51

began to incorporate them into

13:53

her daily routine, taking

13:56

time each morning to

13:59

meditate. and reflect. She

14:03

noticed subtle changes in

14:05

herself. She

14:07

was more patient, more

14:10

at ease, and

14:12

more connected to the

14:14

present moment. She

14:17

was even sleeping more

14:19

soundly. One

14:22

evening, Clara faced

14:24

a personal challenge that

14:27

tested her newfound mindfulness.

14:31

She received a call from her

14:33

boss, pressuring her

14:35

to return to work sooner

14:37

than planned. Anxiety

14:40

welled up within her, but

14:44

she remembered her great-uncle's

14:46

teachings. So

14:48

she took a breath, let

14:51

go of her fears, and

14:54

surrendered to the situation.

14:58

Her great-uncle guided her through

15:00

the process of surrendering, encouraging

15:03

her to let go of control

15:06

and trust the journey.

15:11

As she breathed deeply and

15:13

let go, Clara felt

15:16

an unexpected strength

15:19

and peace. She

15:22

realized that surrendering didn't

15:24

mean giving up. It

15:28

meant trusting the process and

15:31

allowing herself to be guided

15:34

by life's natural flow.

15:38

Compromising with her boss, she

15:41

told him she could return a

15:43

few days early if he

15:46

would allow her to take a longer leave

15:48

later in the year. That

15:52

evening, as they sat

15:55

by the fire, Clara's

15:57

great-uncle shared more

16:00

about his life. He

16:03

spoke of the times he

16:05

had faced uncertainty and

16:07

fear, and

16:09

how surrendering had

16:12

led him to unexpected

16:14

places of peace and

16:16

fulfillment. His

16:20

words were a balm to

16:22

Clara's soul, reassuring

16:24

her that she was

16:27

on the right path. On

16:32

Clara's last day on the

16:34

island, her great

16:37

uncle shared one final

16:39

tidbit of wisdom. Integrating

16:43

mindfulness into your daily

16:46

life, it's

16:48

a continuous journey, he

16:51

said. It's

16:53

about being present, finding

16:57

balance, and

16:59

embracing growth, remembering

17:02

that you are

17:04

enough, and you

17:07

have enough. Clara

17:11

felt transformed by her time

17:13

at the White House. She

17:17

had learned to balance her

17:19

inner energies to surrender

17:22

to the unknown parts of

17:24

life's journey, and

17:27

to find peace in the present

17:29

moment. She

17:31

felt ready to face her city

17:34

life with a new

17:36

sense of clarity and

17:38

confidence. As

17:41

she prepared to leave, Clara

17:44

hugged her great uncle tightly.

17:47

"'Thank you for everything,' she

17:50

said. "'I'll

17:53

carry these lessons with me always.'

17:58

"'remember, Clara,' she said. Her.

18:00

Great Uncle replied. The.

18:02

Lighthouse is always hear

18:05

to guide you. Clara

18:10

left the island feeling

18:12

lighter. More. Balanced

18:15

and ready to embrace

18:17

life with an open

18:19

heart. This.

18:21

Time she boarded the

18:23

ferry. Who had a

18:25

sense of both anticipation

18:28

and com. Knowing that

18:30

she had the tools

18:32

to navigate whatever challenges

18:34

lay I said. As

18:38

the ferry pulled away from

18:40

the island. Clara.

18:42

Looked back at the White

18:44

House one last time. It

18:48

stood tall and steadfast.

18:51

It's light cutting through the

18:53

early morning fog. She.

18:57

Felt a deep gratitude for

18:59

the time she had spent

19:01

there. And the lessons

19:03

he had learned. The

19:06

lighthouse had shown her the way.

19:09

Back to house. On.

19:14

Her journey back to the said he. Clara.

19:17

Reflected on her experience.

19:20

She. Realized that the peace

19:23

she had found on the

19:25

island was not something external.

19:29

But a state of be. She.

19:31

Could cultivate with the

19:33

in herself. She.

19:35

Resolved to continue

19:37

practicing mindfulness. To.

19:40

Embrace the balance of her

19:42

energies and to trust the

19:44

journey of life. Back.

19:48

In the city. Clara.

19:50

Found herself facing the

19:52

same challenges. But.

19:54

She approached them. With. A

19:57

new awareness. She.

20:00

took a little time each day

20:02

to meditate, to

20:05

walk mindfully, and

20:07

to reflect on her great

20:10

uncle's teachings. She

20:12

noticed that she was more

20:14

present, more patient,

20:18

and more at peace. Cara's

20:22

colleagues and friends saw the

20:24

change in her. She

20:27

became a source of calm and

20:29

inspiration to those around her,

20:33

sharing her journey and the

20:35

lessons she had learned. She

20:39

realized that by surrendering to

20:41

her own journey, she

20:44

was better able to help

20:46

others find their own

20:48

path to peace and

20:51

balance. The

20:55

lighthouse had indeed shown Clara

20:57

what she needed to see.

21:00

It had illuminated the way

21:03

to a life of mindfulness,

21:06

balance, and surrender.

21:09

And as she continued her journey, Clara

21:13

knew that the lighthouse

21:16

would always be with her, guiding

21:19

her through the unknown and

21:22

reminding her of the peace

21:25

that lay within. Now

21:31

that we've journeyed with

21:33

Clara through her transformative

21:35

experience at the lighthouse,

21:39

let's take a few moments to

21:42

integrate the lessons she learned

21:45

into our own lives. Just

21:50

take a few deep

21:52

breaths and

21:54

imagine yourself standing

21:57

by the calm sea, Feeling

22:00

the gentle breeze and

22:03

the soft sand beneath

22:05

your feet. As

22:15

you walk along the shore, notice

22:19

the balance between the

22:21

strength of the waves

22:23

and the stillness of the

22:25

water. The

22:28

waves roll in and out,

22:32

a constant rhythm of

22:34

movement and rest. Allow

22:39

yourself to surrender to this

22:41

rhythm, feeling

22:44

both grounded and

22:46

free. With

22:49

each step, feel

22:52

the sand supporting you, the

22:55

earth beneath you, and

22:58

the vast expanse of the ocean

23:01

before you. Take

23:13

a deep breath in, filling

23:16

your lungs with the fresh

23:18

sea air, and

23:21

slowly exhale, releasing

23:24

any lingering tension or

23:27

stress. With

23:30

each breath, letting

23:33

go of any worries

23:35

or concerns, and

23:38

inviting a sense of peace

23:40

and trust into your

23:43

heart. Continuing

23:46

to breathe deeply, embracing

23:50

the journey of life with

23:53

a balanced, Open heart.

24:05

Imagine son my warming

24:08

your scan. The

24:11

sound of the way it's

24:13

soothing your mind. As

24:17

you continue to walk. Visualize.

24:21

The balance within yourself.

24:24

The. Strength and stability of

24:27

your masculine energy. And

24:30

the fluidity. And receptivity

24:33

of your feminine energy.

24:37

See. These energies as

24:39

two complimentary forces

24:41

within New. Working.

24:44

Together. In harmony. Reflecting.

24:57

On the lessons Clara learned from

24:59

her great uncle. Who.

25:02

You the importance of

25:04

being present. Observing.

25:07

Without judgment. As

25:11

you breathe. Then. Focus.

25:14

On the present moment. On.

25:16

The sensations in your body. On.

25:20

The sounds around do. With

25:25

each exhale, Seeing.

25:27

If you can let go. Just.

25:30

A little bit more. Of

25:33

any judgments or distractions.

25:37

Allowing yourself. To. Fully

25:39

experience the here.

25:42

And now. When.

25:53

You think about surrendering to

25:55

life's journey. What?

25:58

to surrender mean to

26:00

you. Rather

26:02

than giving up or giving in,

26:06

can you gently let go of

26:08

control and get

26:10

curious about the unknown?

26:16

As you walk along the shore, imagine

26:20

yourself releasing the need

26:22

to control every outcome.

26:26

Feel the freedom that comes

26:28

with trusting the journey, with

26:32

knowing that you have the

26:34

strength and resilience to

26:37

navigate whatever comes your way.

26:50

And as you continue to walk,

26:54

take a moment to reflect

26:56

on a recent challenge you

26:58

faced. How

27:01

did you respond to it? How

27:05

might you approach it differently,

27:08

using the lessons of mindfulness,

27:11

balance, and surrender?

27:17

Take a moment to visualize

27:20

yourself handling the

27:22

situation with calm and

27:25

clarity, trusting

27:27

in your ability to

27:29

navigate it with grace.

27:42

Picture yourself approaching a

27:44

similar situation in the

27:46

future with a

27:48

sense of balance and peace, see

27:54

yourself embracing both your

27:56

strength And vulnerability.

28:00

The king mind for

28:02

deliberate accents. And

28:04

surrendering to the slow slice.

28:08

Feel. The confidence and

28:10

to remedy. This

28:12

comes with this approach. And

28:25

as we come to the end

28:27

of our meditation. Take.

28:30

A few more deep breaths.

28:34

In now feeling the air

28:36

fill your lungs. Bringing.

28:39

With it. A sense of

28:41

calm. And. Peace. And

28:45

exhale. Releasing any

28:48

remaining tension or worse,

29:01

Take. A moment to notice how

29:03

you feel. To.

29:06

Carry this sense of

29:08

peace and balance with

29:10

you into your day

29:12

or night. Remember

29:15

the lessons of the lighthouse.

29:19

They're. Always within new. Guiding.

29:22

You through the unknown. And

29:25

helping you find your way.