INTENTION
I devote time daily to my spiritual and emotional well-being and to self-care.
Yearly the holidays beguile us with promises of joyful gatherings, spiritual renewal, and family bonding. Yet too often we find ourselves overstimulated, stressed, anxious, overextended, lonely, and depressed. By devoting time to spiritual and emotional well-being and self-care, this season can be one of reflection, deep inner connection, and peace.
Establish a conscious intention to take care of yourself and holiday obligations in a more centered way. Remember intentions help you become the best version of yourself. Take a few minutes each morning to turn inward and breathe in and out through your nose deeply, slowly, and mindfully. Then set a personal intention for the day or use the one we suggest for your week. Working with the same intention until it becomes a regular part of your life provides emotional support. Check in with your intention again before you go to sleep to help you ground your intention and create deeper roots. At the end of the week, revisit your daily or weekly intentions to see how they aligned with your actions, values, and daily routines.
Introduce other self-care techniques along with your intention practice to make this holiday season more enjoyable and satisfying.
Get enough sleep. Our brains need sleep to function effectively, efficiently, and productively. Make sure you don’t forget the critical importance of sleep. Poor sleep negatively impacts our mood and interactions with others.
Set aside time for yourself and for self-care. What can you offer yourself each day to take care of your health and well-being? Take a yoga class, go for a walk, buy a ticket to a holiday show, enjoy a massage, or volunteer to help someone else. When you take care of “you” you will be more likely to experience deep inner connection and peace this season.
Set boundaries. Say “yes” to yourself by setting reasonable commitments with which you are comfortable. Instead of accepting every holiday invitation, limit yourself to two a week. Rather than baking 5 trays of cookies, offer two.
Don’t overextend. It is common for people to spread themselves too thin to make the holiday season beautiful and bountiful for families and friends. Stay mindful of your efforts and ask yourself if you are comfortable overextending. Be aware of what you need to stay relaxed, rested, and renewed.
Delegate. Invite others to share in preparations for the holidays. If you set a precedent of including others, you create shared experiences which yield a greater sense of collective joy!
Practice mindfulness and discover the true joy of the season by being attuned to your personal sense of peace, calm, balance, and love. Be present. Connect to your breath. Listen, observe, feel, and engage with the beauty of the season that wraps around you like a warm blanket on a chilly day.
Blessings,
Jeanne and John
