The holidays are considered a time for celebration and thanksgiving, but there’s a lot of stress that can go into the holidays, too. Anxiety can seep in as we attempt to create this “picture-perfect” depiction of what the holidays are supposed to be about, and all of this energy can be draining. Food preparation, decorations, conversation, traveling and more are generally part of the holidays, which can make the day of peace and gathering everything but! What’s even more – a lot of people are unable to spend time with loved ones this holiday season because of work, recovery or other life situations. This time of the year is an excellent time to really zone in with meditation – to give you a peaceful state of mind as you navigate some of the busiest times of the year.
Try out the following holiday-themed meditation exercises:
1. Reel in Positivity
Lay down or sit comfortably and close your eyes if you can. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth while taking several minutes to gently repeat to yourself (either out loud or in your head) the following: “May today be filled with peace. May I be well. May I be filled with love and kindness.”
2. Extend Love
Getting in the same type of position and with your eyes closed as the first meditation exercise, imagine that your feet are grounded firmly, almost as if you’re a tree with roots that are secured deep into the ground. Imagine the energy from this balance flowing up through your feet, your legs and through your entire body – and you’re extending love out to the entire world this holiday season. Imagine yourself feeling so much love – and then extend that to a friend, a family member, a stranger, a community and so on.
3. Gratefulness
As you’re focusing on your breath, breathe in positivity and gratitude, while breathing out negativity and pessimism. Allow beautiful thoughts of your blessings to emerge in your mind as you breathe in – this could be the food and housing that you currently have, friends and family, the journey of your recovery, the inner strength that you have and so much more.
The holidays can be stressful for a number of reasons, but you can really tone down that stress by taking hold of it through meditation. Over time, meditation can truly transform your inner and outer experience – and you’ll find that you become much stronger over time because of it.
Cumberland Heights is a nonprofit alcohol and drug-addiction treatment center located on the banks of the Cumberland river in Nashville, Tennessee. On a sprawling 177-acre campus, we are made up of 2 12-Step immersion campuses, 12 outpatient recovery centers and 4 sober living homes. We believe that each person has a unique story to tell – and that’s why we always put the patient first.
Call us today at 1-800-646-9998 to take the next step towards your happiness and health.
