Any picture-perfect image of the holidays we build up in our minds, filled with expectations of how life should be, rarely gets met for long. It’s easy to get caught in the mental trap of the “the comparing mind.” We might think to ourselves: This is how things are—and this is what I picture they should be. We strive to recreate images of holiday bliss, and it exhausts us. Illusions portrayed in shows, movies, in our friend’s social feeds, or holiday advertisements set our more complex reality into disturbing relief. Consumerism itself leads to unhappiness, encouraging our endlessly hungry and restless craving for even more. Instead of aiming for perfection and letting every detail cast us into bouts of worry, we can use the holidays to actively appreciate the people around us and our good fortune wherever we find it. We can enjoy those moments that feel like holiday bliss, and find humor in the moments that clearly aren’t. Even when things fall apart, there’s often more to see. Letting go of hard-and-fast expectations opens you up to more opportunities for connection and joy. Allow the holidays to happen. Take care to do whatever keeps you grounded, like sleep and exercise. Enjoy it, plan what needs planning, and let go of the rest. Focus instead on whatever you value and find most sustaining this time of year. Happy Holidays!
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Mindful Staff December 6, 2019
Mindful Staff December 5, 2019
