……It’s often said that there’s no place like home for the holidays. To truly experience the peace and joy of the holiday season, it’s most important to feel at home within our own bodies. The pace of the holidays can feel frenetic, despite winter’s call to slow down in the longer, dark nights. Thankfully, your breath is always available to ground you in the present moment. Our breath can always support us in shifting from pain to possibility.
……Holiday travel may require lots of grace for ourselves and the people around us. Visiting family might trigger our emotional wounds. Whatever you have planned for this season, your breath will be with you in every step of the way. If moments of tension arise, consider checking in with the breath. At any time, you can pause, connect with your body, and bring your attention back to yourself.
……For some of us, the winter holidays ignite feelings of grief and pain. Being human comes with the full expression of emotions, from delight to anxiety. Our wounds are not there to shame us. They are invitations to care for ourselves more deeply. Give yourself permission to honor this season in the way that most serves you. Choosing yourself provides the emotional bandwidth needed to support the people you love.
……Identifying your own boundaries can support you through the holiday season. Maybe you’re always expected to prepare the family big dinner, but you don’t feel like cooking this year. You always have the right to say no. If a family member’s substance use makes you uncomfortable, consider loving them from a distance or attend an Al-Anon meeting for guidance and support. Traveling by flight comes with the instruction to secure your own oxygen mask before helping others. Let this message be a reminder for you to navigate the holiday season by focusing on and prioritizing your own breath.
……In preparation for the new year, consider dedicating time for reflection. After holiday travel and/or celebration, your body will thank you for making this decision. A releasing practice can be a helpful tool to let go of what no longer serves you. The practice provided below can be done on your own or with a group. Allow your body to communicate the best way to complete this practice for yourself.
Find a quiet and comfortable spot. Close your eyes and reflect on your year. Begin with January, doing your best to remember the energy you brought into 2024. Maybe it’s helpful to use the seasons or holidays as guideposts for your own reflection. Notice the moments that brought you joy and the ones that you were challenged by. Pay attention to any trends or themes that arise in your mind. This reflection can take as long as you’d like.
When your reflection practice is complete, identify a quality about yourself that you are ready to release. Maybe you’re ready to let go of resentment towards a person who you believe did you harm. If you have a history of financial challenges, this could be the last year of experiencing that struggle. On a piece of paper, write down whatever you feel ready to release from the year (or your life). Then, set that paper on fire. Literally. If you don’t have access to a firepit, there are safe and creative alternatives. Maybe you can go outside with a long grill lighter and a large pot to light your old qualities ablaze. Tearing up the paper into a garbage can is your safest option. Listen to your body’s guidance to identify the best way to release the quality from your life.
Once you release those old qualities from 2024, consider setting an intention for the new year. It doesn’t need to be a “resolution” to incorporate a new habit into your life. It can be as simple as a word, like “breathe”, to remind you to find home within your own body. Allow the painful moments of the past to propel your possibilities forward.
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