Letting Go of the Past — A Meditation on Time, Wisdom and Peace

Letting Go of the Past — A Meditation on Time, Wisdom and Peace

Author: Martin Hewlett - Calming Anxiety May 3, 2026 Duration: 10:25
Calming Anxiety:
Setting Down the Past   
In this episode, Martin explores the concept of time as a river, teaching us how to observe our past without being swept away by it. Whether you are carrying old memories, missed conversations, or difficult decisions, today we learn to view our history not as a weight, but as the wisdom that shaped our journey. 
Episode Time Chapters
  • 00:00 – The courage to leave things behind
  • 01:03 – Coming home to the body: Breathing exercise
  • 02:45 – The River Visualization: Observing the past
  • 05:03 – Letters of Light: Affirmations for freedom
  • 07:58 – The 3 Daily Caring Tips
  • 09:24 – Closing thoughts and kindness

    The companion chat in Nature for this session - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSsMkIiEwZw
Affirmations for ReleasingBreathe these in and allow them to land softly in your body:
  • I release the grip of the past and I choose the freedom of this moment.
  • Every year I have lived has given me something I could not have learned any other way.
  • I am not behind; I am exactly where my journey has brought me and I am ready.
  • I forgive myself for the things that I did not know that I understand now.
  • I carry my history with me, not as a weight, but as a wisdom.
The 3 Daily Caring Tips
  1. The Small Ceremony: Write down one thing you are choosing to release today. Draw a line through it to stop it from running in the background of your mind.
  2. Gift of Knowledge: Spend five minutes reflecting on yourself from ten years ago. What would you tell them? That wisdom is a hard-won gift.
  3. Active Becoming: Remember that at any age, you are still becoming. One small act of courage is all it takes to keep moving with the river.
Support & ConnectIf this session helped you find your calm, please subscribe and explore the back catalog of over 2,000 free guided meditations.
  • Share the Calm: If you know a friend, family member, or colleague who needs to hear this today, please share this episode on your social feed.
  • Watch on YouTube: For a POV discussion of today's theme, head over to my other channel: @exhalewithmartin.
Always remember, in all you do, be kind.



👉 Click to subscribe and unlock ad-free episodes now!

Support the Show:Ad-Free Listening: Enjoy Calming Anxiety without ads at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety--4110266/support

Buy Me a Coffee: Support hosting costs at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/calminganxiety


https://calminganxietypodcast.substack.com/?r=6zm0sc&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist

Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners!



YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1

 Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/

Backing Music: Chris Collins

===================


Affiliate links to the gear I use the items that give me a more tranquil life.

=============================
Items I use for a more relaxed...

Finding a moment of quiet in a busy mind can feel like a distant hope. Calming Anxiety | Guided Meditation, Sleep Hypnosis & Panic Attack Relief is built on the understanding that relief is a practice, not a single destination. Hosted by Martin Hewlett, a certified practitioner, this podcast serves as a personal, audio sanctuary for anyone whose days are shadowed by worry or whose nights are spent wrestling with restless thoughts. Each episode is crafted with a gentle, caring tone, providing a practical library of tools you can return to daily. You might find a short, ten-minute mindfulness session designed to defuse afternoon stress, or a longer, immersive sleep hypnosis track to guide you out of insomnia and into deep rest. The focus is on genuine, accessible techniques-from guided meditations that calm racing thoughts to specific panic attack relief-all aimed at fostering a tangible sense of peace. This isn't about abstract concepts; it's about hearing a supportive voice that helps you navigate back to calm, one breath at a time. Tune in whenever you need a resource to quiet the noise and reclaim a sense of stillness.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Calming Anxiety | Guided Meditation, Sleep Hypnosis & Panic Attack Relief
Podcast Episodes
The 10-Minute Nervous System Reset  NSDR for Subconscious Calm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:31
Stop a panic attack fast and regulate your nervous system in just 10 minutes. This science-backed NSDR protocol (Non-Sleep Deep Rest) is a natural remedy for social anxiety, workplace stress, and the Sunday Scaries.In th…
HEALTH ANXIETY RELIEF – GUIDED MEDITATION WHEN WORRY WON'T STOP [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:03
Are you finding it impossible to stop the worry today? If you are caught in a cycle of checking, scanning, and returning to the same health-related thoughts over and over, you are not alone. This is health anxiety, and y…
Illness Anxiety Relief – Guided Meditation For Health Worries [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:37
Are you caught in a constant cycle of checking, scanning, and worrying about your health? Illness anxiety can make every physical sensation feel like a catastrophic event. In this session, Martin Hewlett—a clinical hypno…
CAN'T STOP WORRYING ABOUT YOUR HEALTH – GUIDED MEDITATION [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:33
Do you find yourself lying awake, unable to stop worrying about your health? When the house is quiet and the world slows down, health anxiety and "symptom checking" can become overwhelming.In this session, Martin Hewlett…
Calm Your Mind Now  : Guided Breathing to Stop Panic and Overthinking [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:31
Struggling with a racing heart, overthinking, or the edge of a panic attack? In this session, Martin—a clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic—guides you through a physical and mental reset to move from high-alert b…
Health Anxiety Relief — 10 Minute Guided Meditation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:29
Do you constantly check your body for signs something is wrong? If you find yourself Googling symptoms at 2 AM or convinced that every flutter in your chest is a crisis, this 10-minute session is designed for you. We tac…
Why Can't I Sleep — Anxiety Relief Bedtime Meditation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:26
Are you exhausted but find your mind racing the moment your head hits the pillow? The harder you try to force sleep, the wider awake you feel. Tonight, we stop "trying."In this episode of Calming Anxiety, Martin—Clinical…
Why Do I Feel Worthless — Anxiety Relief Meditation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:49
Why Do I Feel Worthless? — Anxiety Relief MeditationDo you ever feel like you’re just not enough? That the whispers of self-doubt are louder than your own voice? You aren’t alone, and more importantly, those thoughts are…
Help me breathe  10-Minute Triage for Instant Panic Relief [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:03
Help Me Breathe: 10-Minute Triage for Instant Panic ReliefIf you have clicked on this episode because you are struggling right now, I hear you. Your mind is searching for relief, and your body is saying, "Help me breathe…
Quiet a Racing Mind  10-Min Meditation to Stop Overthinking [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:38
Are you struggling with analysis paralysis or an anxiety loop that won't quit? That racing mind is simply your brain trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist in the present moment. In this 10-minute session, we’ll in…