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by joy holden ?e angels proclaimed on the first
christmas
, ?peace and goodwill to all.? yet, the
christmas
season seems to be about everything but peace in our hectic, consumeristic society. we can sing all the
christmas
tunes we want about peace, but unless we deliberately focus on it, we won?t experience those promises. here are some mindful ways to experience peace this holi
day
season. and, because these are ways to live peacefully, do not burden yourself to do them all or catch up. participate in one, five, or all twenty-five. it?s up to you. ?is
christmas
list is intended to relieve stress, not cause it. your favorites. pay attention to the texture, the weight, the color, and the smell. eat slowly and notice the taste and texture. ? graceful gratitude: jot down three
things
you are thankful for to
day
. ?ey can be specific to the holi
day
season, or just important to you in the moment. try to remember those
things
throughout the
day
. ?
christmas
movie time: sometimes nothing can brighten your
day
more than a
christmas
classic. turn off all other electronics. cuddle with some blankets (turn down the air if it?s a warm baton rouge
day
), heat up some hot chocolate, and pop some popcorn. laughter works wonders. ? emotion evaluation: pause and ask yourself how you feel in this moment. identify your present emotion and identify how you know you feel this way. inhale and exhale. accept your emotion and move on. ? color ?erapy: snag some
christmas
coloring sheets at your local library branch, borrow your kids? crayons, and color your heart out. invite your kids for some quiet coloring or color all by yourself. you?re a grown up, you can color whenever you want. ? from task to treasure: choose a chore like dishwashing, cooking, folding clothes, or making beds. be present and focus on your body and your senses during the chore. ? paint party: so, you?re not an artist? who cares? ?is is for peace not a prize! grab a paintbrush and some paints, and create an abstract expression correlating with a holi
day
memory or a holi
day
scene. ? bubble bath: escape with some essential oils, bubbles, and candles. maybe you need to decompress from shopping or planning. maybe you need to soak for a few minutes. if you?re feeling extra
christmas
y, listen to some bublé with your bubbles. ? evening reflection: at the end of the
day
, spend five minutes reflecting on the
day
. specify one good thing, one frustration, and one thing you can improve. write these down and write a gratitude from the
day
. ? relaxed wrapping: you can turn gift wrapping into a joyous occasion. focus on each crease, the feel of the paper, and the sounds of the scissors. you don?t have to be an expert, but you can use the time to be quiet and present in the moment. ? license to chill:
christmas
traffic can be a doozy on our peacefulness. try this tip to
day
. while driving, become aware of body tension, like your hands wrapped tightly around the steering wheel, shoulders raised, stomach tight, etc. consciously work at releasing, dissolving that tension. inhale and exhale deeply and shake out your hands and shoulders. ?
christmas
card for you: write a card to yourself to be read next
christmas
. answer the following questions in your letter. who are you to
day
? what makes you happy? what are your goals? what makes you sad? what are some
things
you are struggling with? what are all of the wonderful
things
in your life? ? dance it out: put on some of your favorite songs (mariah carey ?all i 25
day
s of peace ? candlelit quiet: light a candle and sit for five minutes. meditate on your hopes for the season. ? sink into your senses: be still for a few minutes. name three
things
you see, three
things
you smell, three
things
you hear, three
things
you can feel, and three
things
you have tasted that
day
. great activity to invite children into your pursuit of peace. ? watchful walk: take a mindfulness walk and look for sights and sounds that conjure the holi
day
spirit in you. bring along your children, your spouse, your family, or your friend to share in the stroll. ?
christmas
carol journal: play your favorite
christmas
song with your journal open. listen to the song and then write a positive memory or the lyrics that resonate with you. write what emotions arise when you hear the song. ? purposeful picnic: make a pizza or order takeout and dine with the family inside on a blanket in front of the fire. talk about your
day
and focus on the fun of sitting on the floor. ? savor your snack:
christmas
is often filled with all types of baked goodies. take a few minutes and savor one of 1 14 7 16 17 18 2 15 8 9 10 11 12 13 6 3 4 5 6 2 b r p a r e n t s . c o m | d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 7
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