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Finding Peace and Joy This Holiday Season

Finding Peace and Joy This Holiday Season by Kelley Grimes at Cultivating Peace and Joy

“Dig the well before you are thirsty.” Chinese Proverb

 

The holiday season is upon us and for many it is a time of family, friends and fun. But for some the holidays are more challenging and highlight loss, loneliness and disappointment. Whether you love the holidays or can’t wait for them to be over, nurturing yourself is the key.

 

Here are some empowering strategies to support you in navigating the holidays with grace and peace of mind.

 

1)  Start the day out with your most self-nurturing practice.

If you know that exercise, meditation or acknowledging what you are grateful for is your most nurturing practice, choose to begin your day that way. The more filled up you are from the start, the more energy, perspective and patience you will have with what follows!

 

2)  Simplify your holiday experience.

There are many ways to simplify your holidays including choosing not to over commit, being intentional about the invitations you accept, inviting others to help with food at holiday parties you host, simplifying your gift giving by purchasing gift cards or donating to a meaningful cause in someone’s name, and choosing to focus on what is truly important to you.

 

3)  Create time each day for self-reflection.

Nurturing ourselves requires knowing what we need and making supportive choices for our selves. This is important at any time of year, but definitely during the holiday season. Spend some time each day cultivating your self-awareness by journaling, meditating, creating a list of things you appreciate about yourself and your life, and/or just pausing to breathe, connect with yourself and the present moment.

 

4)  Be sure to include play into your holiday experience!

Play is such a powerful self-nurturing strategy. Find ways to release stress and increase joy by being playful and having fun. You can play board games, watch holiday movies, dance, hula-hoop, take a walk, bake your favorite holiday dessert, and/or be creative all in the spirit of playfulness!

 

5)   Set an intention for peace and joy this holiday season!

I believe that intention setting is a powerful tool and can transform our perspective. Choose to cultivate peace and joy by nurturing yourself consistently and embody the true meaning of the holiday season. When you come from a deeply nurtured place you are able to spread more love, kindness and compassion in the world.

 

So how will you nurture yourself consistently so you are filled up and radiate peace and joy, rather than overwhelm and stress this holiday season?

 

Please share your ideas in the comments to inspire and encourage others!

 

May you nurture yourself deeply this holiday season and experience true peace and joy and may you nurture peace in the world from the inside out!

Kelley Grimes

Sending you so much peace, love and gratitude,

Kelley Grimes, M.S.W.
Counselor, Author & Speaker

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Join the discussion 8 Comments

  • Lira Kay says:

    Thank you for the great tips!

  • Lea Tran says:

    Thanks for this much needed post, Kelley. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed over the holidays.

    • Thank you so much Lea! I love the quote I started the blog with because it reminds us that we need to fill up before we feel overwhelmed by the holiday season. I hope you are inspired to nurture yourself starting today!

  • Kim Lawyer says:

    Hi, Kelley!
    I was thinking of holiday stress before I opened my email this morning. To those of us who have lost all of our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc, those special people and their memories are what we miss most during the holiday season. I thought that a Holiday Shrine might make those people seem closer to us. Pictures of family members, special tree ornaments that were given to us as family keepsakes, holiday candles and incense, all displayed on a small table or shelf with a touch of holiday decor might act as a balm to the souls of those of us who have lost our loved ones. (Don’t forget to represent special pets who have gone before us!) I think it would have one of two effects…It would illuminate the memories or make some grieve more. I think I will try to do something like this when the decorations go up. My special memories at holiday time are of the people and the laughter, and the gift of family.

    • Kim what a beautiful way to nurture yourself and feel connected to all your loved ones! Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful ritual and offering another way to transform stress of the holidays and feel more loved and empowered!

  • Alycia says:

    Very nice article, exactly what I was looking for.

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