It is early November and that means the holidays are upon us. I imagine you have already seen Thanksgiving, Christmas, and related decorations in stores, likely before Halloween. Today my son asked for a donut with red and green sprinkles to get ready for Christmas (!)
I was talking with a client the other day about the holiday time of year and she let out a big sigh and dropped her head into her hands with the nonverbal OMG.
Now hear this!
You can 1) succumb to the holly-daze hoopla, materialism, family obligations, social pressure, sleep deprivation, financial overwhelm, waning self-care practices, and an overall disproportionate amount of stress during a time of year that’s true essence is about love and light…
Or…2) you choose what YOU want.
You are powerful.
You have a choice in how much you get swept up into the external noise. (As an energetically sensitive being, I practice this all the time. My sanity depends on it.)
Here are 3 ways to create your Best Holiday Season!
- Create ease in your body. Take a walk, engage in physical activity, dance-it-out in your living room, restore in a yoga class, or do something that feels good and releases excess stress in your body. This will support your mind/thoughts/imagination when you…
2. Carve out a little time to reflect on what YOU want the holidays to be. consider what you want to DO and who you want to BE. Do you want to be the stressed-out version of yourself OR the joyful, happier version?
Write it down, speak it out loud, record it, share it with someone who will encourage your vision, or capture it in some way. If it helps, place yourself in a serene setting to support you. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time – even 10 minutes of focused time will get you started.
Dream a little or a lot.
3. Identify one incremental step that you can do TODAY – or at least plan when you will do it. (Why wait?) If it feels too big or overwhelming, break it down. If it feels like a should, heavy, or your body contracts in some way, this is not your step; it belongs to someone or something else. Choose another one.
BONUS: choose a “doing” and a “being “step. For example, consciously choose how many invitations to say yes to that will not burn you out AND carve out an afternoon, day, weekend or more for you to do something you LOVE and brings you JOY. After all, this is what life is about!
You will need to negotiate.
With yourself and most certainly others. The holiday time involves other people and gatherings that may or may not be in your ideal vision. It may be impatient strangers at the post office or crowded shopping centers. It may be going to Aunt Suzy Q’s house in the middle of nowhere with minimal vegan options and thanking her for the ugly sweater (again). Whatever your outer environment, you can still choose to create some inner peace.
It may be: excusing yourself multiple times to “go to your room because you forgot something;” doing a one-minute meditation in the bathroom; bringing snacks that you enjoy and nourish you; focusing on the good things about Aunt Suzy Q and her joy for ugly sweaters – this can apply to other members of your family/those that are gathering too. In addition, proactively carve out restoration time after visiting Aunt Suzy Q to decompress and regroup!
You can do this. You can set yourself free (or at least freer) this year to go with your flow and snap out of the externally driven trance to do and be more than really serves you. Give yourself permission this season, and every day, to live from the inside out.
Shine Your Light,
Lisa
Questions, comments, aha’s, more info on any of the above? Email me or connect with me here. I celebrate the ease and graceful version of your Self!
Lisa Medley, MA, CMT believes as we create more love in the body, we create more love in the world. She serves as an Embodiment Mentor and has over 20 years’ experience in the healing arts including a MA in Expressive Therapy, life and wellness coaching, therapeutic massage and bodywork, somatics, energy medicine, and conscious movement & dance. Lisa is energetically sensitive that blesses her with a strong divine connection and challenges her to stay centered in an overwhelming world. She has discovered that honoring body wisdom is the key to sustaining wellbeing and soul evolution with more ease and grace. Learn more http://www.soulisticarts.com