In this week’s Wednesday Wisdom, Karissa reflects on what to do when you wake in the night and can’t get back to sleep.
Instead of fighting wakefulness, she explores how naming your worries, accepting the moment, and remembering that rest still counts can help the mind settle again. For the full meditation, search “Getting Back to Sleep – Sleep Wave.”
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[00:00:27] Years ago, I read a book by Neil Donald Walsh in which he said, What you resist persists. What you look at disappears. I was so struck by this idea that I stopped reading, found some paper and pen, and wrote it down to tack on my wall so I would see it daily. Looking at those tricky things I want to resist has since become a practice.
[00:00:54] It's like shining a flashlight on the monster under the bed. Even if there is a monster, at least you know it's there for sure and can either get it out of your room or make friends with it. This idea is especially useful when I wake in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. There is always the familiar refrain of, I have to get up in X many hours. I have so much to do tomorrow. I don't have time for this.
[00:01:22] I'm going to feel terrible all day. That usually spins out into all the other things I'm worried about, all my various monsters under the bed. When I can remember to stop and look at them though, there is a noticeable shift. Sometimes I have to get out of my bed, open my journal, and write all my spinning thoughts out. I have to physically get them out of my body and mind.
[00:01:52] Once I've got them down, I can look at them in full light. Sometimes those fears or worries that I've written out feel very possible and threatening, and other times it's easy to see that I've let myself spin out about things that are highly unlikely. Either way, looking at them gives me power. It gives me choices about what I want to come to pass.
[00:02:21] It gives me a moment to accept the way things are instead of denying or avoiding them, which allows me to be clearer about what actions to take in the day. Other times, I don't have to take it as far as getting out of bed to write when I wake up in the night. Instead, I can simply say to myself, I'm awake. That's okay. There is value in lying down and resting, even if I'm not asleep.
[00:02:52] That simple admission helps me turn off the naysayer in my brain and allows me to be a bit more present and calm. If your family enjoys the stories here on Sleep Wave, and you're looking for something to listen to during the day, I think you'll love this. It's a podcast called The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian.
[00:03:22] It's a serialized science fiction story about an 8-year-old and his friends exploring space and solving mysteries, told in 15- to 20-minute episodes that are perfect for car rides or for winding down at the end of the day. The podcast is recorded by Jonathan Messenger and his son Griffin in the basement of their home and has a similar warm narrator feel that we have here on Sleep Wave.
[00:03:47] It's built a whole host of loyal fans and even a shout-out from Time Out magazine who pointed out how much fun kids have following the cruise adventures, exploring new planets, meeting aliens, and helping shape what happens next. It's one of those stories kids can get completely drawn into, and one I'm sure you'll enjoy listening to with them. So, if you're looking for a story podcast to share with your family,
[00:04:14] look for The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian on Apple Podcasts or head to gzmshows.com for more info. And be sure to tell them Sleep Wave sent you.