Easing the Stress of the Holidays

Not everyone feels joyful during the holidays. For many of us, there is a deep sense of longing, or loneliness if we lack family or miss the presence of family members who are no longer with us. We may even feel jealous of our closest friends who seem to enjoy picture-perfect holidays with their loved ones. Others have complicated and uncomfortable family dynamics to navigate during get-togethers and gatherings, financial stress, and an overall feeling of overwhelm and exhaustion. All of these things get amplified this time of year, and so many of us end up wishing these days to pass us by as quickly as possible!

While we might not be ready to fully embrace this time of year, we may be willing to examine some ways to ease our pain a little bit. We can try on a more accepting and peaceful perspective through listening to the wisdom of Buddha’s teachings. By making our mind still through the practice of meditation, we’ll examine what the holidays represent and mean to us, and see if there are any perceptions (or misperceptions) we can let go of that might free up some space in our minds to actually find some beauty in this time of year. We’ll set a heart-felt intention to develop a new way of relating to the holidays by putting Buddha’s advice into practice and seeing for ourselves whether it can transform our experience.