Which of the previous statements resonates with you most? Which feels like an affirmation you may need to hear right now? What is present in your life this season that needs more ease, rest and encouragement? For many caregivers and adults, millions in fact, this holiday season may not be full of joy. It may not be the holiday season we wanted, perhaps wished for or prepared for and it may not be the same as or even close to our “normal” or desired holiday season. Whatever the reasons, it’s important to know that this too, is normal. Recognizing this shared experience, though possibly a disappointing one, can help release expectations and soften strain to offer an affirming and easier place to rest in what is actually present and available. When we normalize our experience as valid and outside of self-judgment or comparison, we step into the gifts of a season which may not feel like it has many. One significant gift is the opportunity to let old stories and beliefs about ourselves and circumstances go, particularly those which begin with It’s supposed to, I’m supposed to, I should be, I wish…
We reduce our suffering when we do.
Acknowledging how things are challenging or disappointing right now can open the door for accepting and enjoying what can be enjoyed, and how essential this is for the ease and rest we may need over the coming month, particularly one that is dark by 5pm. Whether through loss or change, unexpected or anticipated, know you are not alone in how you feel. Exploring the truth of things takes courage and it may be the truest gift of the season, and one you can give yourself. Ease and Rest. Not necessarily more sleep, but rest, in consistent doses and in its many forms.
Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, author of Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity, highlights 7 types of rest every person needs. I hope you will consider the following in your own care as gifts to yourself this month and into the new year. May they offer you a balm and also, room to experience ease where it arises and the opportunity to enjoy your life more, even when things are hard and options feel limited.
7 types of rest that every person needs:
Physical Rest
Mental Rest
Sensory Rest
Creative Rest
Emotional Rest
Social Rest
Spiritual Rest
You can read more about these 7 types of rest here.
May your holiday gifts include a gentle & honest inventory of your needs & the kind of rest you need to be well in 2023!
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