Navigating a Holiday Season That Isn’t Peaceful or Joyful
Resistance makes change. [No justice, no peace sign]
As the holidays approach, a familiar melody of carols and twinkling lights fills the air. Yet, for many, this season isn't about joy and peace. It's a stark reminder of trauma, grief, and conflict. For those carrying the weight of personal or collective wounds, the holidays can feel like a forced march through some alternate reality.
This year, as the devastating genocide in Gaza unfolds, the dissonance between holiday cheer and the harsh violence of the world feels particularly heavy. How do we reconcile giving gifts here with bombs raining down there? How do we sing about Peace On Earth when the world is at war?
In the face of such overwhelming challenges, it's tempting to numb out or retreat. But we actually need to acknowledge and check IN to how we are feeling. We can find solace in the practice of trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness. These tools, honed in the crucible of personal and collective suffering, offer a path to navigate the holidays with grace and resilience.
Breath: The Anchor in the Storm
Trauma often leaves us feeling disconnected from our bodies. Breath work becomes a powerful anchor, bringing us back into the present moment. Simple techniques like alternate nostril breathing or box breathing can ground us, creating a space for calmness amidst chaos.
Movement: Reclaiming Your Body
Trauma can also trap us in a state of fight-or-flight. Gentle yoga poses, practiced with awareness and self-compassion, offer a way to express and release pent-up emotions. Moving our bodies can become a form of self-care, reminding us that we are not just vessels of pain, but beings capable of strength and flexibility.
Meditation: Witnessing the Inner Storm
When the mind is a battlefield of thoughts and anxieties, meditation offers a refuge. By observing our inner landscape without judgment, we learn to use and channel our anger and cultivate more compassion for ourselves and others.
Community Care: Sharing the Light
Trauma thrives in isolation. But we are not meant to face it alone. Building a community of support, whether through therapy groups, online forums, or mindful gatherings, allows us to share our burdens and find strength in collective healing.
Spreading Peace in a Time of War
While we cannot control the world around us, we can choose how we respond. By anchoring ourselves in breath, movement, and mindfulness, we cultivate inner peace that becomes a beacon of light in the darkness.
This holiday season, let's remember that peace isn't the absence of conflict, but the presence of resilience. It's in the quiet moments of breath awareness, the gentle stretch of a yoga pose, the shared silence of a meditation. It's in the support of a community and the courage to act in service of others.
As we navigate holidays that feel anything but peaceful, let's use our practice to spread ripples of compassion, understanding, and action. Let's find peace within, share it with others, and remember: even the smallest light can illuminate the darkest night. Remember, you are not alone. Let's create peace together, one breath, one movement, one act of kindness at a time.
Resources for Trauma-Informed Yoga and Mindfulness:
The Trauma-Informed Yoga Project: https://traumaconsciousyoga.com/tcymethod/
The Center for Mindful Living: https://m.facebook.com/p/The-Northwest-Center-for-Mindful-Living-100063664111867/
The National Center for PTSD: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/