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The holidays are a magical time, brimming with laughter and connection, yet they can also carry mental weight for many. Practicing mindfulness during the season and beyond is often overlooked, but it can make a significant difference.
What is Mindfulness
Good question. Before we can discuss how to implement mindfulness, we must first learn what it actually means.
Mindfulness is a practice that involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment. It can help you become more self-aware, feel calmer, and cope with difficult thoughts.
Mindfulness can include:
- Noticing what you’re seeing, hearing, smelling, and tasting
- Being aware of your thoughts and feelings as they happen
- Accepting your thoughts and feelings without judging them
- Tuning into what you’re sensing in the present moment
Being Mindful means Spreading Love and Compassion
Not everyone is all joyful during the holiday season. Actually, seasonal depression effects about 5% of adults in the U.S. and it typically lasts about 40% of the year.
Remembering that not everything is what it seems is one way to be midful.
Related Post – How to deal with toxic family
Beinf Mindful means Really Listening
“Uh huh” “Yeah ok” are not forms of showing that you are paying attention.
Most people want someone to pay attention to what they are saying.
Really lisenting to someone can make their day as much as anything else
How to engage and listen
- ask questions- not too personal
- maintain eye contact ad scary as it seems
- ask open ended questions
- do not interrupt
- do not plan what you want to say next (I have a hard time with this)
- say “excuse me” if you need to go
Tip 3- Think before responding
Do you ever just talk and talk and not think about what is coming out of your mouth? Yeah that is not being mindful to others.
Being mindful means listening like I stated above. But it also means thinking really hard about your response.
You do not want to be the one who. Everyone thinks is toxic and does not want to have a conversation with because they think you are rude.
Instead, take a deep breathe and really listen to what someone is saying.
Exampleis sometimes saying you know how someone feels or trying to one up them with your experience. Let them vent.
Try the Calm app to stay calm in every situation
Being Mindful means Being present in the moment
We rely so much on technology that we really do not know how to interact with other people anymore.
Instead of listening , we think about what might be trending or if our post is going viral.
Being mindful means having a Digital detox from the world to be in the present moment.
You want to remember when little Timmy first saw his bike instead of watching some random person on Youtube opening their gifts.
It is ok to record little Timmys moment but do not get so swept up in having to read the comments or how many views it gets to watch in person.
Related post- What is digital Detox
Mindful tip 5- Set boundaries
Here we are talking about being mindful to everyone but ourself.
We want to be mindful by setting boundaries but in a nice way.
Maybe you do not want to talk about why you are alone at 37 and do not want kids.
Instead of getting aggravated at everyone asking, say something like ‘I am sorry but life has other plans for me’
No matter what anyone says, it is your life
Being mindful means letting go of perfection
Stress is about all we hear when talking about the holidays. The stress of making everything perfect from the decorations to the gifts.
We have to step back and remember, yes the holidays are important and yes you want to remember them but they also are not important.
Remember the holiday season comes every year. A baby will not remember their first Christmas as make next one better.
Stop trying to make this Christmas better then last.
Just try to enjoy the season and let what come may come.
Sometimes the best things are imperfect
Be Mindful, kind and enjoy the season
In conclusion , we want to remember the good. Not the arguments, not the stress and certainly not the depression.
Be mindful, kind and enjoy everyday