Stillness in the Midst of Festive Frenzy
One of the recurring themes I’m noticing at the moment is the conflict in people’s natural impulse to slow down as the cold of winter takes hold and the requirement to engage in a frenzy of festive activity.
Many of the women I work with have children and are juggling the inevitable stream of creating costumes for school plays, attending end of term carol concerts and organising Xmas parties with all that entails.
Add to this the planning of presents, social outings and family commitments on top of the regular requirements of everyday life, and it isn’t hard to see how the enjoyment of each one can get lost in stress and exhaustion!
Xmas Commotion
Even if you choose not to engage in the Xmas commotion, everywhere you look there are promotions encouraging you to spend, spend, spend or feel somehow less than everyone else unless you do.
The same old seasonal music plays in all the shops and there’s an energy of angst in the air that becomes increasingly manic as the “big day” approaches and everyone rushes to get everything ready.
Primal Instinct
In the northern hemisphere, Xmas occurs in winter when nature is slowing down and preparing to sleep for the natural hibernation required to survive the cold until the warmth of spring returns.
Your primal instinct is to do the same; to rest, be still and conserve your energy with minimum effort for maximum health and well-being.
Yet you’re driven to overrule these impulses and push through depletion to fit in with what has become the norm for so many people in a society that has forgotten how to stop.
No wonder doctor’s surgeries are overwhelmed with patients during January!
Abundance of Delights
Of course that’s not to say there isn’t a great deal of joy and good cheer around the festive season.
There are an abundance of delights from sparkling lights to colourful decorations that lift the spirits and brighten up the darkest nights.
Roasting chestnuts on the wood-burning stove, making mulled wine and sharing magnificent meals with family and friends are just a few of my favourites.
Importance of Stillness
Yet there is a reality to the pressure to “perform” and I find myself reminding so many people about the importance of stillness in the midst of whatever version of festive frenzy they may be experiencing.
So here’s a simple suggestion you may also find useful to see you through the coming weeks in the most conscious, creative and joyful way possible:
- Three times a day (morning, noon and night) from now until the New Year, stop and take three minutes of complete stillness.
- Drop your awareness into your body and centre yourself by placing your hands lightly over the lower part of your belly just below your navel.
- Breathe consciously and deeply to fill your whole body with the life force that comes through your breath.
- Abide in the still space at the core of your being to refresh you at every level.
- Finally, move forwards calmly in the knowledge that this too shall pass!
What are your thoughts and feelings about seeing the festive season through in a balanced and rewarding way for all concerned? Please share your comments below. Thank you🙂
thank you for the stillness practice and I will be using this! Think it could be very helpful at any time not only during holiday frenzy:) I enjoyed your post very much, so related to it!
It’s great to hear you enjoyed the post Carol and thanks for your comment. The stillness practice is indeed helpful all year round; it’s just especially so at this time of year!
Thank you for giving me permission to be, what I thought was lazy, during these dark winter days. I now feel I am allowed to slow down and maybe read a book it is ok to do this because when Spring comes my body will wake up and feel alive and ready to do things once more.
Thank you for the 3 minutes of stillness 3 times a day I will be trying to do this.
You’re most welcome Sue, and I hope you drop the self-judgement relating to “laziness” once and for all following this! Enjoy slowing down, reading and resting along with your 3 mins of stillness 3 times each day. That way you’ll be ready to gear up when spring comes around to enjoy the boost of energy it brings.
Such good advice, Julia, and one I shall follow over the coming days. I think modern people are very bad at living with seasonal phases and rhythms. Rosalyn Maynard of the School of Experiential Learning taught me that in Winter animals ‘Go to ground’ and reduce their activity. I cite this since Rosalyn is a Somatic teacher and you advocate using our body as a means of abiding in stillness for refreshment.
Thank you Peter. I welcome your quote from Rosalyn Maynard as animals are indeed effortlessly aligned with the natural world, and as you say, it’s just people who’ve lost touch with seasonal rhythms.
Somatic teaching has a great deal to offer us as the body has immense wisdom and resources for us to draw on when we slow down enough to pay attention to it!
A very timely reminder to us all. Thank you Julia.
Thank you Daphne, enjoy! x