Six Conscious Tools to Bring Real Joy To Your Holidays

Dec 1, 2009 by Renee Snider

It’s ‘that’ time of year again. Everywhere you look there are signs of the holidays, and no matter what holiday you partake in, the end of the year and all it brings can be a very stressful and perhaps even sad time of year. Holidays can trigger a variety of negative feelings, memories and responses in many people.

Since we are able to shift our thoughts and feelings by being more aware of them, we actually have an opportunity to change how we view our holiday experience. We can consciously choose some new approaches or just be more in tune with what we are choosing for our self.

Here are some conscious tools that can allow you to be more present in the moment, release negative feelings and invite more joy and peace into your holiday. Try them out for yourself!

Being Grateful

The power of gratitude can shift your mood and perspective quite quickly to one that allows you to recognize the many blessings in your life. Holidays are a time of reflection and being grateful, but I invite you to use it as a conscious tool for daily living as well.

Counting and reviewing our blessings elevates our perspective. It can make us instantly wealthy. In taking inventory of all that we have both tangible and intangible we each find we are very blessed. Look at all you enjoy and make a daily accounting of these things, for when we focus on being thankful and grateful, we bring more of those things into our life.

Conscious Eating

Holiday sweets, family recipes, yummy goodies, cakes, parties and buffets abound this time of year. So many tasty choices tempt us to indulge. Practicing conscious eating can help you to maintain your weight and not overeat. By using a conscious approach to food choices, you can still enjoy the food, merriment and moment without overextending your appetite.

Some ways practicing eating consciously are:

Eat slowly and enjoy each bite
Be mindful of everything you put in your mouth
Be selective and eat only what pleases you most
Try not to eat and carry on a conversation at the same time
Only put on your plate what you will eat at that moment
Pause and think about what food choices will bring you energy and are the healthiest
Choose small portions
Drink lots of water before going to a gathering or buffet; this will help fill you up beforehand

Conscious eating causes us to be aware rather than unconscious about our food choices, supporting our larger goal to live a joyful and healthful life.

The Calming Power of Our Breath

Breathing, if done consciously, can calm us and bring us to the present moment. Especially at holiday time, breathing is a quick and effective conscious tool to get you out of feeling stressful, rushed or frustrated.

You can practice this tool almost any time. It just takes a few minutes to check in on your breathing. Check to notice if you are breathing in a shallow manner, from the top of your chest, instead of in your stomach or belly. When our breath is short and shallow, it can reflect our stressed state of being. When we breathe more deeply and fully, our breath can calm and center us, bringing in more oxygen to increase our energy levels.

Choose to focus on your breathing, and start by taking in a full and deep breath, one that expands your stomach and breathe in and out slowly. Do this from three to five times in a row. Then, notice how calmed and aware you just became.

Saying “No”

Saying “no” establishes a personal boundary. Personal boundaries are very important in the role of self-care and help to prevent us from getting lost in all there is to do during the holiday season. This conscious tool allows us to be more mindful of what brings us joy and what we do out of a sense of obligation.

It is okay to say “no” and enjoy the holiday so that you are not stressed, annoyed or overwhelmed. So, when you are asked to attend, contribute to, participate in or join something you really don’t want to, stop before you commit. Ask yourself, “Is this really what I want for myself?” It can be very draining if you are just going through the motions. It is okay to set boundaries and choose those things that are fulfilling to you! When you consciously choose your holiday events, activities and gatherings, the season will be much more fulfilling and precious.

Being Mindful

Mindfulness can expand your holiday joy in many ways. To be mindful simply means to be in the present moment, rather than dwelling in the past or living for the future. Yet it is not as easy as it sounds with all the activities that surround the end of the year.

You can practice mindfulness in small pieces at a time; just spend 5 minutes only thinking, doing, feeling what is happening in your moment. When you keep in the moment, fully engaged and present, you are mindful of every thought and action. You are focusing on what is happening, helping you to create a more fulfilling experience.

You can practice mindfulness at anytime. Notice how mindfulness can heighten your experience to feel more love, joy and a sense of connection. Like any tool, the more you practice it the better the results and the more automatic it becomes.

Forgiving

A forgiving attitude reaps many benefits and is one of the most powerful conscious tools available. It is the gift of grace. During the holiday, let go of the feelings of hurt and pain you may be harboring. Anytime is the right time to forgive.

Releasing our hurt by forgiving is a gift we can give ourselves. Negative emotions keep us stuck in unhealthy thoughts and energies. When we practice being forgiving, we empower ourselves. It lightens our emotional load. Take the time to practice forgiveness and give to yourself this gift of relief and understanding. Practice replacing anger with love and watch the joy begin to grow!

About the author

Texas-based Renee Snider is an inspiring holistic practitioner and true forward thinker who exudes a great passion for sharing powerful, holistic processes that help you to find inner wellness and to release blocks to live what you love and ”Live Out Loud,” creating a joyous and delicious life by choice. She is an expert in Mindset Transformation and encourages her clients to step out of their ‘box’ to expand their thinking and create their life to be as magnificent as they desire it to be. Contact Renee directly at www.reneesnider.com.