What a joyful season it is as we bustle about sharing our goodness with others!
The joy of giving and reminding ourselves of our gratitude for the relationships and individuals who share our life is tantamount to the season. But what about extending some loving energy to yourself this month? Self-care is a vital ingredient in the recipe for staying healthy in body, mind and spirit. If you celebrate Christmas, you know it is a time for giving. This year, give some loving care to yourself as you begin, so you will be emotionally and physically strong enough to give to others. Here’s how:
Sounds funny doesn’t it? But this time of year is ripe with seasonal smells which will conjure up wonderful memories of holidays gone by: cinnamon, apple pie, berry scented candles, the holiday dinner warming in the oven, the scent of pine and cranberry and the crisp winter air filled with the smell of logs burning on the fire. Become mindful of the moment – not in a way that tugs at you to finish your shopping or your chores, but in a way which allows you to reimagine the richness of the relationships which have filled your life. Reduce stress with simple, relaxing meditations and spend time with people you enjoy.
Tension can build as the days for holiday celebrations draw near, and the last thing you want is to arrive frazzled from your preparations. Ilchi Lee’s 10-10-10 Solar Body Exercises offer a great way to start your day from an energetically balanced condition to help stave off rising pressure in your mind and body. Try to do any last minute shopping during off hours, and don’t get caught up in the holiday frenzy. Consider alternatives in place of gifts you are having trouble locating. Give yourself permission to relax and create a sense of joy and peace within your mind and spirit.
Watch out for excessive behavior in yourself which can lead to missed sleep, over eating or too much alcohol consumption. Stay consistent with your exercise and meal times and be sure to take relaxing breaks throughout your day. Evaluate obligations and choose mindfully over how you will spend your time. Give yourself permission to slow down a bit and remind yourself that the best way to come through the season is with happy memories, a healthy body and renewed spirit for beginning a new year from a balanced place.
It’s easy to forget that not everyone you encounter is having a happy holiday experience. While happiness is a goal and an ideal, if you hold too high of expectations for the outcome of your seasonal efforts, you will put unnecessary pressure on yourself and possibly unreasonable expectations on the behavior of others. Relax! Focus on the spiritual versus the commercial aspects of the season. Let the season unfurl and blossom into what it is meant to be – a time of sharing new experiences, old traditions and the pure, simple love which randomly fills our hearts with everything we could ever need.
And of course, it doesn’t end when the season is over; this is a gift to mindfully offer yourself 365 days a year! Happiest Holidays to you!