Use meditation to counter Christmas stress
I wonder how you are feeling about Christmas? The song says, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year,” but it’s widely known that Christmas stress is real and it can even make you sick! Instead of Christmas cheer, many people are reminded of family or friends they have lost either by death or estrangement, or reminded of financial stresses triggered by so many false expectations that our happiness depends on the latest expensive whatchamacallit. Whatever the reasons, we need a way out of our tendency to simmer in our own disappointments and then pretend that everything is happy. This is exactly where cultivating skills of mindfulness and meditation are a game-changer. If you are sick and tired of listening to your own stream of unwanted thoughts and negative self-talk, this is tailor-made for you. What is mindfulness anyway? And what's it good for? Here’s some background, then I’ll share some practical tips. Measurable improvements in a person’s wel...