The world can seem like a chaotic, frightening place sometimes. Even under the best of circumstances it is easy to feel dischord and anxiety, and stress, and ironically often during the time of year when we're supposed to feel most joyful!
Of course there are all kinds of ways to combat anxiety, fear, and tension, but a short list of my favorites always seem to work, no matter what! Here they are, and hopefully they can help you or someone you love to relax and enjoy the holidays as they truly ought to be enjoyed. The same steps, taken consistently will improve the quality of our lives all year long.
1. Go to nature. Find the most remote nature spot that it is convenient to get to. A nearby forest, ocean, lake, or river would be magnificent, but if these aren't handy, then go to the nearest park, or canyon road, or field. Once in the nature spot of your choice, stop. Stand there. Listen. Listen to the wind, if there is any. Listen to the trees in the wind. To the water. To the silence. To any animal noises, and keep listening for at least ten minutes. Breathe. Breathe in and out, slowly, feeling the fresh air enter your lungs, and clean out your mind. When you are ready, walk. Walk easily, lightly, and listen to nature speaking around you. The tweet of the birds, the distant bark of a dog, and keep breathing.Going to nature and slowing down your movements gets you in touch with a natural rhythm that is our real world. This creates a vibration inside you that is in synch with the natural world and provides a deep renewal of your energies. If you can, spend some hours here, and return often. If you can't, then spend a half an hour, and come back as soon as possible.
2. Look at your xmas activity list (or daily to do list), and make sure that everything on that list is something that you WANT to do, and is of a duration that makes you feel BETTER, not exhausted, for having done it. Do not shop for presents you do not want to give. Do not feel as though you have to make xmas perfect for anyone else. Make it perfect for you, and others will love it too. If the people you're working so hard for see you stressed and upset, it will cancel out your hard work to make them happy. I don't do holiday cards anymore after having made them for 15 years. Instead I do a small amount of xmas baking and give it to whoever is handy. I also don't make an annual xmas trip to the coast anymore, that my family does every year, because it is always terrible driving weather and causes me great anxiety. Instead, I have a very small family dinner at my house, with only the food I want to make, and everything else bought at Trader Joes. In this way I still honor my family, celebrate the holidays, but relieve my stress and allow my activities to be joyful. If you radiate joy, and spread your love of the holiday in whatever form is best for you, then others will feel it, too!
3. Eat well. The holidays are hard, but except at actual parties or dinners, you can keep to a delicious, healthy eating plan. Avoid meat, dairy, white flour, sugar, and alcohol. They are toxic and create an imbalance in your body leading to poor sleep, painful gas, fatigue, general lethary, and depression! Instead enjoy fresh fruit juices (yum, mango juice!), soy egg nog (delicious, and no salmonella threat!), whole grain rolls with Earth Balance vegan butter (dreamy!), sweet potatoes, fruit-sweetened jam, handfulls of toasted almonds, spiced rice dishes, deeply satisfying lentil soup! There are thousands of scrumptious, healthy alternatives to holiday junk food that will not only make your tastebuds sing, but make your body feel amazing!!!
4. Sleep well. Another essential rejuvination that leads to a higher quality of life and less stress. Get into the habit of going to bed at the same time every night. Make sure your bedroom is quiet, and you are not woken up by a television or someone taking a late night shower, or by street noise. I had to move my bed downstairs into the basement because of these factors, and it is bliss. I have fixed it all up and it is a very quiet, cozy place to sleep and I sleep so much better because of it!
I have all kinds of fine-tuning adjustments to these four basic steps to relieve stress and improve your life, but this is a good place to start. If we can rejuvinate our spirits, if we can spread happy joy throughout our day, then we can influence others to do the same, and gradually spread peace throughout the world.
Happy Holidays and Peace on Earth to All!
Comments