All Episodes

December 12, 2025 7 mins
Does looking at your bank balance or holiday shopping list trigger a immediate knot of panic in your chest?. You are not alone.
In the middle of December, we are often bombarded with the message that "love equals spending," which triggers deep financial scarcity and unworthiness wounds. But your worthiness is not a transaction, and your love is not measured by a price tag.

Join clinical hypnotherapist Martin for a Somatic Reset designed to help you put down the heavy bag of expectation and reclaim your peace.



In this episode, we will:
  • Identify Financial Stress: Locate where money anxiety lives in your body (often the jaw and lower belly).
  • Switch Off the Scarcity Alarm: Use Box Breathing (Inhale 4, Hold 4, Exhale 4, Hold 4) to balance the mind and ground the nervous system.

  • Visualize the Release: Somatically "set down" the heavy burden of needing to buy the perfect gift or perfect reaction.

  • Reframe Gift-Giving: Learn why offering your calm presence is more valuable than any stressed-out version of you holding a box.
Mantras for this Session:"My presence is the greatest present I can give." "I release the need to buy approval." "I am enough exactly as I am right now."



Timestamps:
00:00 - The "Scarcity Mindset" Trap
01:20 - Somatic Check-in: Jaw & Belly
01:59 - Box Breathing Technique
03:21 - Visualization: Setting Down the Heavy Bag
04:25 - Hand on Heart Affirmations
07:17 - The Gift of Time (Martin’s Story) A Note from Martin: "One of my gifts when I was very poor was the gift of time. I'd write cards to friends and family and offer them an hour, half a day, or a day of my time. It is a precious gift."
 
If this session helped you lower your shoulders, please share it with a friend who might be overwhelmed by their shopping list.


👉 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

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

Resources & Courses:Book Hypnotherapy: Schedule a one-on-one session with Martin at https://calendar.app.google/rXHMt8sRYft5iWma8 Pain & Anxiety Course:

Manage negative thoughts and pain with The Physio Crew’s course at https://offers.thephysiocrew.co.uk/home-pain

Breathing Challenge: Try our relaxing breathing challenge at https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/breathing-challenge/

Gift a Subscription: Share Calming Anxiety with loved ones at https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/shop/calming-anxiety-gift-subscription/

Get the App:iOS: Download Calming Anxiety at https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/calming-anxiety/id1576159331 Android:

Get it on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=digital.waterfront.calming.anxiety&hl=en-GB

Connect With Us:Email: Share feedback or requests at calminganxiety@martinhewlett.co.uk

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.
Rode Podmic - https://amzn.to/3LN1JEd
Zoom Livetrak L8 - https:/
Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Release gift giving anxiety. Stop financial stress and guilt.

(00:07):
Hi, if you've clicked on this title, I'm guessing you're looking at your bank balance
or your shopping list and feeling that knot of panic right now in the centre of your
chest. Well welcome to a safe space to put that burden down.

(00:27):
I'm Martin, clinical hypnotherapist and today we're going to release the pressure of
gift giving and just reclaim your sense of worth.
The middle of December brings a very specific kind of anxiety. We are bombarded with messages

(00:49):
that say, "If you love them, you'll buy them this."
It triggers our scarcity mindset. It makes us feel small.
But I want you to know something before you begin. Your worthiness is not found in
a transaction. Your love is not measured by a price tag.

(01:16):
Let's look at where this anxiety lives in your body.
Usually, financial stress lives in the jaw and the lower belly. I invite you now to sit comfortably.
Place both feet flat on the floor. We need to feel the ground. We need to remind your

(01:41):
nervous system that you are physically supported right now. You are safe.
Let's switch off the scarcity alarm with some box breathing. It balances the mind.
So with me in hail 4 3 2 1, hold 3 2 1, exhale 3 2 1, hold 3 2, 1. Now just try that

(02:21):
yourself.
And again, inhale stability, hold that piece, exhale expectation and hold in the silence.

(02:48):
We'll do that once more with my count. Inhale 3 2 1, hold 3 2 1, exhale 3 2 1, hold 3 2 1,

(03:09):
1 and now let your breathing return to its own natural rhythm. I want you now to imagine
you're holding a heavy bag. This bag is full of expectations, the perfect gift, the perfect

(03:30):
reaction and the fear of disappointing someone. Notice truly how heavy it is. Notice how
tired your arms are. In this safe space, I invite you to set the bag down. Open your

(03:51):
hands, wiggle your fingers, let the blood flow back into your arms. You don't have to
carry that today. Just imagine that feeling, that weight of expectation, disappearing,

(04:11):
dissipating. Now place a hand over your heart, feel that beat, that is the rhythm of you.
It costs nothing and it is the most valuable thing you possess. Let's repeat these affirmations,

(04:35):
set them land deep in your belly. You can say them out loud or silently in your thoughts.
My presence is the greatest present I can give. I release the need to buy approval.

(05:03):
I am enough exactly as I am right now. Remember, the people who truly love you want you.

(05:23):
They want your eyes lighting up, they want your laughter, your calm nervous system. They
don't want a stressed out version of you holding a perfect box. When we give from a place
of anxiety, we offer anxiety. When we give from a place of calm, we offer peace. Choose peace.

(05:56):
Now take a final deep breath in and as you exhale, imagine all of your worries, your stresses,
just floating away like a cloud. Imagine complete harmony within mind, body and soul,

(06:19):
because simply put, you are worthy. Take another deep breath in, wiggle your toes, feel
the floor beneath you once more. You are grounded, you are secure and as you go about your day,

(06:41):
if the panic of not enough creeps back in, remember this, you are the gift. Open your eyes now.
I'm Martin, clinical hypnotist, creator of all of these shows. If this helped you lower
your shoulders today, please do share it with someone else who may be stressing over the

(07:06):
shopping list. One of my gifts when I was very poor was the gift of time. I'd write cards to
friends and family and offer them an hour, half a day or a day of my time. It's a precious gift.

(07:27):
Time is finite, offer it wisely but with love. Have a wonderful day my friend,
smile often, positive thoughts when you can and to yourself and others, be kind.

(07:53):
you
Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

The Bobby Bones Show

The Bobby Bones Show

Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.