The holiday season is upon us once again!
For many, this is the most wonderful time of the year.
The cold weather brings with it a sense of cozy comfort, and the warm glow of holiday lights banishes the darkness.
This is a time for family, friends, and traditions.
It’s a time to come together and celebrate all that we have to be thankful for.
Whether you’re looking forward to decorating your home, attending festive parties, or simply enjoying some quality time with loved ones, there’s no doubt that the holiday season is a special time of year.
Although there can be some anxieties that tend to arise at this time of year regarding money issues, family dynamics, fear, or unresolved issues around over-eating or drinking and overspending.
The holidays can typically demand a fair bit of our time, energy, and money.
On the one hand, there are fun opportunities for socializing, connecting, and enjoying the company of friends and family, and on the other, there’s an increased chance of feeling tired, drained, depleted, disconnected, and out of touch with your regular routines.
Many of us aren’t sure what to expect from the holidays this year.
Will we be allowed to spend it with family? Will there even be any parties?
It might look a little different for everyone, depending on where you are in the world.
But no matter what you hope to be doing, keeping your mind, body, and spirit in a high vibration is going to be of utmost importance.
1. Spend your time intentionally
You don’t have to say yes to every single invitation to dinner or drinks.
It can be a real drain on your physical and spiritual being to rush around trying to please everyone and be in all places at once—Check in with your intention before you decide to do something.
Are you saying yes out of a sense of obligation?
Or are you agreeing to something because you want to do it?
Check-in with how you feel, if you light up with excitement and anticipation, it’s a good sign!
Learn to listen to your intuition and your heart when it comes to deciding how to spend your precious time.
2. Practice gratitude
This is a great way to stay in a healthy mindset and not lose sight of what’s important to you.
Make a gratitude list every single day during the holidays.
Being grateful for your health, your family, your friends, and anything else that you appreciate about your personal circumstances can remind you to keep positive.
When you share that high frequency of thankfulness and love with others, it can make a serious difference in your experience.
3. Practice being mindful
Don’t let little annoyances and anxieties become big things.
By remaining mindful throughout each day, you can ensure that you maintain that connection to your higher self.
Any time you feel overwhelmed or as though you are taking on too much of other people’s energy or expectations, check in with your breath and your body.
By dropping into yourself and finding that present moment awareness, you will learn to listen to what you need in each moment.
4. Practice forgiveness and letting go
Family can be one of the biggest triggers of all for many people.
If you find yourself in a situation with a family member who tends to criticize you or you know that petty issues will come up during the holidays, prepare yourself ahead of time by protecting your energy and making the decision not to be personally offended.
True forgiveness takes time and work, but deciding not to let someone’s comments ruin your family day is something you can control.
Protect yourself by imagining a white light all around you like a shield, and learn to respond in a non-combative way.
Make an effort to find compassion and perspective, this will help you to sail through any unpleasant moments with ease.
5. Holistic health
Don’t allow the holidays to be an excuse for bad sleeping habits, overconsumption, or stopping your meditation routine.
It’s just as important, if not more, to stay active, eat well, and get adequate sleep during this time.
The easier it is to drop your healthy habits, the more crucial they are to maintain.
If you start to feel exhausted and out of touch with your regular self, you will find it harder to maintain mindfulness practices and gratitude.
Try to schedule at least short meditations each morning, daily walks, yoga stretching and exercises, and a good night’s sleep.
Prioritize the health of your mind, body, and spirit always.
Without it, you cannot function at your best.
You need that inner connection to yourself to remain strong in order to know yourself and act from a place of true spirit and authenticity toward others.
6. Remember what’s important
If the holidays fill you with dread and stress you out, decide to change that this year.
Perhaps this year, more than ever, we need to remember what matters in life.
For those of us who can’t be with loved ones or who are only going to see them through a zoom call or computer screen, we can still appreciate and embrace the essence of gratitude and togetherness, which is what the holiday period is really about.
It’s about giving thanks and coming together to share experiences and appreciate the people in our lives.
It’s about reflecting on the year and honoring our triumphs however big or small.
It’s about thinking of those less fortunate and offering them what we can, whether that be financial support or simply love, hope, and prayer.
Remember: Maintaining spiritual wellness during the holidays is about knowing what’s right for you and having the confidence and certainty to follow that path and act upon it.
If in doubt, breathe. Meditate.
Bring yourself back to the quiet, stillness of your heart.
Find something to be grateful for, and let that positive emotion infuse your body with love and heartfelt joy. Kindness is contagious.
You can spread happiness and love, no matter what.
Are you excited about the holidays?
