Mindfully Cultivating Peace and Joy During the Holidays
Here are my tips for mindfully cultivating peace and joy during the holidays:
Move mindfully through your days. If you do not have a practice of mindfulness, this might be the time to start. Not sure what is mindfulness? Check out some resources, such as "Mindfulness for Beginners" by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD. or "The Now Effect", by Elisha Goldstein, PhD.
Take a few minutes each day to meditate, sit quietly or breathe with intention. Just taking a few minutes each day just for you to go within could be enough to shift your energy –because you are taking time JUST FOR YOU.
Try to move your body each day. Whether you park farther away from your destinations, take a relaxing walk, or set aside time for exercise—try to move daily. Exercise is a wonderful stress management tool, but even gentle movement assists us in releasing stuck and stagnant energy.
Notice your thoughts and emotions as your day unfolds. If you are starting to feel stress, worry or overwhelm (or any negative emotion or challenging thoughts)-Pause. With the awareness that you are starting to struggle, you can start to shift and lift the struggle. Acknowledge the thoughts or emotions you recognize. Don’t stuff them away, they will only end up popping up again and maybe in ways that will create more stress. Find a way to release them: chat with a trusted and supportive loved one, journal, or use affirming self-talk.
Create intentional plans. (meaning: don’t just do what you have always done) With a little pre-prep work to bring in peace and joy into your holiday season, start by recognizing your needs, your wants and desires. How you would you like to celebrate? What would your ideal celebration look like? Who would you invite to celebrate with you?
Don’t over book yourself. Schedule yourself based on your personal energy and interests. And make sure you have downtime added to your calendar to rest and recalibrate (this is essential for introverts, empaths and highly sensitive folks). Try to keep it simple.
Build fun and laughter into your schedule. Sometimes the to-do lists seem to grow and grow, but adding something that is actually light-hearted and fun is a must during times of “being busy”. How can you add something new or creative to your celebrations?
Give yourself permission to say "no". Opt out of participation in activities that create more overwhelm. Suggest a compromise or limit time spent in uncomfortable or challenging situations.
Set limits. Set, clarify, and hold healthy boundaries with yourself and others. Holidays have a reputation as a time for overindulgence, but rarely do we feel awesome after a night of over-doing-it. Create a safety plan if you do intend to drink. Practice moderation in drinking and eating. Don’t skimp on sleep and stay hydrated.
Look at your expectations. Are they realistic? Have you openly and clearly conveyed your expectations to the people in your life? Look at your thoughts around other people’s expectations. Has the other person or group of people actually verbalized these expectations or are you assuming. Don’t assume. Ask them to clarify, see if you are on the same page. This is an opportunity for healthy communication and a shift in perspective.
Are you holding onto resentment or anger? Is it time to either forgive or let go of the pain that you have been holding in? This might be a good time to reconnect with a therapist or maybe work with another practitioner to support safe and healthy emotional release.
Recognize if you are beginning to isolate and withdraw due to overwhelm. Move away from being stuck in your own headspace. Sometimes we get so stuck in negative thought patterns we seem to be unable to see a higher perspective or another’s perspective. When we spend time supporting others, our heart expands and our struggles reduce.
Reach out to a friend, family, colleague, or community member that might be in need of support or maybe simply, a conversation. You don’t have to overextend yourself, but is there a way to build more connection?
Volunteer, donate time or your gifts and talents to those in need. Again, this isn’t to be done out of guilt or obligation but sometimes we can experience a shift in heaviness when we take an honest inventory of what we have, what we can share, what we are grateful for in our lives. And just like someone may have done for you during your time of need, you can share a bit of yourself with others to lift them up. And this has a dual effect—we benefit from the interaction just as much as the receiver.
Brush the dust off your practice of gratitude. Honestly take an inventory of what you are grateful for receiving or experiencing in your life. Send thanks for all that you have, including the tough lessons, and send thanks for all that you will receive in the upcoming year.
Don’t let the meaning get distorted. What is the holiday’s personal meaning to you. Focus on the sources of inspiration around you; Nature’s seasons, cycles, and rhythms or the symbols and messages of the holidays. What are the themes of the holidays that you can imbody in small ways within your world?
How can you make space for love, kindness, and compassion in your life? Remind yourself that you are doing the best you can with the inner and outer resources you have and that is enough. Just like putting on the oxygen mask on the plane, send love, kindness, and compassion to yourself and then to others.
Affirmations for the holidays:
I release the worry and stress to make space for peace and calm.
I do not have to sacrifice my happiness. I am not responsible for another adult’s happiness.
I am worthy of love and acceptance; most importantly from myself.
With a grateful heart, I am open to receiving love.
I am free to create plans for myself that are supportive and meaningful.
I give myself permission to focus on and celebrate the spirit of the season, as I see it.
Today, I choose to put positive energy into the world.
Daily self-care: including managing my schedule and energy and supporting my emotional needs, is an act of self-love.
Peace allows me to tap into my inner light and receive joy.
I am grateful for abundance and prosperity in my life.
I am deserving of peace and joy throughout the year.
If any of the above are new (or even not so new) practices, remember to give yourself a little grace as you practice and refine these strategies. As always, internal judgement and criticism will not motivate you to create positive change so instead send yourself compassion, kindness and love for being brave enough for wanting to create change.
Wishing you peace and joy during the holiday season and beyond,
Mary
P.S. I know how challenging the holidays can be...this too shall pass...but if you are need of support, consider setting up a session for a plan to implement these strategies. Or consider joining my Winter Soul Journey Membership--seasonal support of live group coaching, Reiki healing, guided meditations, weekly oracle readings and more!!
P.P.S. If you would like to listen to me chat about this subject and receive a little distance Reiki to help welcome in peace and joy, check out my YouTube video on this topic!
