Holiday gifts

The Gift of Presence

The secret to making your holidays as enjoyable and stress-free as possible is to take the mindfulness you practice on your yoga mat or meditation cushion and actually apply it in your life from moment to moment. And what better time than those frenzied, emotional weeks at the end of the year? Here are some suggestions:

Live in the moment

Most of our stress occurs when we’re worrying about the future or obsessing about the past. Live in the present, BE PRESENT and your mind naturally settles down and your anxiety dissipates. Easier said than done, of course, especially around the holidays, when your head is filled with commitments and an endless list of things to do and buy. But you can make a commitment to yourself to stop from time to time, shift your attention from your thoughts, and pay mindful attention to your experience right now - BE PRESENT— feel the weight of your feet against the floor, your back against the chair, the coming and going of your breath.

Let go of expectations

Instead of attaching to the way you think things should be (and causing yourself unnecessary stress), you can choose to stay present and grounded, roll with the changes.

Be especially kind and gentle with yourself

If you’re pushing yourself too hard, you need to be the one to notice, back off, and give yourself a little loving. Move at the speed of your body, instead of at the speed of your thoughts. BE PRESENT for yourself - Take a hot bath, do some yoga, get a massage, spend quiet time in nature, meditate, or call a close friend. Do what nurtures you to stay refreshed, balanced.

Practice gratitude

Researchers agree that the key to a happy life is to appreciate what you have. Spend five minutes each night during the holiday season reflecting and perhaps journaling about the good things that happened to you that day, even if they seem inconsequential. Our minds are biased toward the negative to alert us to predators and other threats, so we need to make a special effort to correct the bias.

Above all, remember to be mindful, BE PRESENT, no matter how busy you get. In the end you’re responsible for your own happiness and peace of mind. No one else can give you the gift of being present - even at the holidays!