Hello,
I'm Heidi,
And I'm so glad you're here.
Recently,
With the holidays and family gatherings approaching,
I've noticed myself with this to-do list,
Or more of a must-do list,
That list that's been handed down through generations for a quote-unquote successful family gathering.
Wearing myself out and spinning in the holiday chaos energy,
Feeling like I'm in the middle of a snowstorm trying to find my way,
The spinning in my mind,
The tension in my chest,
The clog in my throat,
The pressure of a successful gathering,
The fear if I don't do this right the magic will be lost.
Maybe you notice this holiday energy in yourself too.
However,
When I take time to slow down and release the holiday stigmas,
Let the snow settle,
I realize the holidays and family gatherings are meant to leave an imprint in my being of happy memories,
Connection to others,
Celebration and gratitude for all I have.
I've learned perfection is not in the doing,
It's in the being and being present to what the holidays actually mean to me,
The essence under it all.
In that being there's an essence,
An invisible energy that fills me up.
Let's explore how to move from that holiday chaos and into holiday being,
Finding your essence in the season.
As you start to settle in and take some deep breaths,
Breathing in through your nose,
Feeling your belly expand and release,
Dropping into your body.
Imagine a grounding cord from the base of your spine deep down into mother earth,
Grounding you and anchoring you,
Holding you.
In this moment,
Where do you sense this need for a successful holiday season?
Where does it live in your body?
Just notice,
Feel into that spot and send it some love.
And now bringing your awareness into your mind's eye,
Imagine a small cozy cottage,
A soft comforting place where the style and colors and decor is yours.
Maybe a comfy chair,
The fuzziest blanket,
And your favorite scent of the season drifting in the air.
Taking a moment to sit wherever you feel called and feel the space and sense the comfort and peace.
As you sit,
You notice a snow globe on the mantle.
Noticing the stirred up snow like a blizzard.
The snow globe is like a container,
Letting you observe all this holiday chaos.
Shaken up like the holiday chaos feels in your body.
But here with the snow globe in your hands,
You can witness this with care and curiosity.
With no judgment,
Just witnessing.
Watching as the shaken up snow is like that energy of striving or perfection.
If I just do it like grandma did,
I'll find joy and love.
Or if I do all these traditions like my parents,
I'll find connection and fun.
If I complete this perfectly,
Like my closest loved ones,
I'll find comfort and peace.
All of that trying to recreate,
Hoping to relive our younger versions of memories.
However,
Now it comes with pressure and stress.
Let's release some of that.
Let the,
I must follow traditions to find connection,
Wash out of the snow globe.
Watch as the snow begins to settle,
Settle,
And settle.
Or that I need to recreate these memories for my children to feel loved.
Melt away in the snow globe.
As the snow settles,
And settles,
And settles.
Or that I need this to be perfect,
To feel comfort,
Drift out of the snow globe.
Watching the snow settle,
And settle,
And settle.
No need to figure anything out.
Releasing any other thoughts that come.
Letting it settle,
Settle,
And settle.
Allowing the energy of any thoughts and beliefs to release and shift.
As the snow settles and the pressure releases,
How do you feel different?
Underneath all of that energy is the essence,
Which is ultimately what you're craving.
And with the snow settled,
Allowing some clarity,
You notice a holiday scene,
A memory in the snow globe.
Imagine the scene has something to tell you about the essence this memory holds.
What does it want you to know?
Notice any messages that arise.
Might be in the form of an image,
A hearing,
A knowing.
Might just be a small sense,
Very subtle.
Have you ever noticed the cookies grandma made are never as good when made by someone else?
Because it's not about the recipe,
It's about the essence of love you received from grandma through her baking.
Maybe underneath it's about connection you felt in the family games.
The essence of surprise and play as a young child.
The feeling of being seen by loved ones.
Underneath all of this,
What were the holidays about for you?
What was the essence of the holidays and family gatherings?
When we're in the holiday chaos,
We disconnect from that underlying essence that brings us love,
Joy,
Connection.
This essence you're seeking exists in present moments.
When the snow settles and you are in your being,
Not doing.
You're not your grandma or your parents or loved ones.
You are you.
You can create this holiday essence in your way,
In a place of being versus doing.
You feel the difference?
How can you embrace this holiday essence from you in this present moment?
And take this essence into your heart,
Embracing it,
Feeling it,
All here in this being.
Breathing it in.
You can let that snow globe go.
Thank it and set it gently down on the mantle.
Letting all of that released energy dissolve far,
Far away.
And what shifts do you feel in your body when you notice this essence,
This being?
This permission to create from being,
Not doing.
That you don't have to work hard.
That you are safe to create in your own way.
Maybe you got a clear sense of what needs to shift this season.
Or maybe this was harder to connect with,
And that's okay.
This isn't another thing to add to your life.
But to ask yourself,
What truly matters in this moment?
What essence do I want to create?
And letting the answers come.
And start to wiggle your fingers and toes and come back,
Taking a deep breath.
Maybe a big sigh.
Open your eyes when you're ready.
The holidays aren't about recreating the past or controlling the future.
They're about being present to what wants to happen right now.
The essence you're seeking,
Connection,
Love,
Comfort,
Or whatever it may be,
Doesn't come from perfect execution.
It comes from showing up authentically in this moment,
Being.
Creating that essence in the moment from you.
So what would your holidays look like if you released this must-do list and followed your what-I-want-to-feel-and-create priority instead?
Thank you for meditating with me today.
And I look forward to meditating with you again.
Take care.
