Dear Reader,
If you’re in the United States like me, Thanksgiving is just around the corner, marking the official kickoff to the holiday season. Personally, I love Thanksgiving—it’s simple. Other than preparing the meal, there’s nothing to do but enjoy delicious food and spend time with family and friends.
Christmas (which I celebrate), on the other hand, is a different story. Since becoming an adult and especially a mom, my relationship with Christmas has grown complicated. While I adore the beauty of the decorations, festive music, cherished traditions, and the giving and receiving of gifts, it’s also a lot. The work, the pressure—it can be overwhelming.
And it’s not just Christmas. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, or another holiday, the joys and challenges are often similar. The planning, the shopping, the cooking—it all adds to an already packed schedule. For many moms, we shoulder most of the responsibility, trying to make everything magical for our kids. Add in crowded stores, traffic, and overstressed people, and it’s easy to feel stretched too thin.
The season also brings its share of emotional challenges. Navigating complicated family dynamics, feeling the pain of estranged relationships, or grieving loved ones who are no longer with us can all weigh heavily. For moms, there’s the bittersweet realization that our children are growing up—no longer believers in Santa or maybe not coming home for the holidays. There’s even grief over another year passing without reaching certain personal goals.
Grounded vs. Ungrounded
The holidays are a cocktail of joy, love, beauty, and magic—but they’re often mixed with stress, pressure, exhaustion, and complicated emotions. This can leave us feeling ungrounded.
You might not use the terms “grounded” or “ungrounded” often, but I bet you know the feeling.
- Being grounded means feeling present, safe, calm, and balanced. Your nervous system is regulated, and you’re in a state of inner peace. Your thoughts slow and you feel embodied.
- Being ungrounded feels chaotic and disconnected. Your emotions swing wildly, you feel anxious or overstimulated, and it’s hard to find your center.
Sound familiar? I don’t know about you, but I’d choose grounded over ungrounded any day!
While it’s normal to feel ungrounded sometimes, the good news is there are simple ways to return to that calm, peaceful state.
Simple Ways to Ground Yourself
In this week’s minisode, I guide you through a grounding meditation you can use anywhere, anytime. But here are a few more techniques to help you stay grounded during the holidays:
- Sit or lie on the ground (indoors or outside). Breathe slowly and deeply for a few minutes, focusing on your breath.
- Take a slow, mindful walk in nature—even your neighborhood works. Leave your phone behind and pay attention to the sights, sounds, and sensations.
- Gently stretch for 5-10 minutes while practicing deep breathing.
- Listen to peaceful music while tuning into your body and emotions.
- Take a yoga class to reconnect with your body and breath.
Remember, these are practices. The more you do them, the more effective they’ll become. Just like exercising once doesn’t make you fit, grounding is an ongoing process. Life will keep throwing us off balance, but these practices will help bring us back.
Happy Thanksgiving & Thank You
If you celebrate, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! Either way, I want to take a moment to thank you for being part of this community. This work wouldn’t be possible without you, and I’m so grateful for how you continue showing up week after week to do the inner work. By healing yourself, you’re healing the world, and I’m honored to be part of your journey.
Sending you love, blessings, and so much gratitude,
Katie
Check Out These Episodes You Might Enjoy:
Looking ahead to January, I’m planning my Yoga for Skillful Living Series which can be attended online or in person. It’s a combination of breathwork, meditation, journaling and community discussion. What topics are you most interested in? Yamas and Niyamas? The 7 Spiritual Laws of Success? Discovering your Dharma? Or something else? Comment on Spotify, reply to this email, or send me a DM on Instagram—I’d love your input!
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