Slow Down and Give Yourself the Gift of Presence this Holiday Season

Dear Soul Sisters (and some really cool brothers),

Well, it’s finally here! The time of the year most of us love and dread all at once: the holiday season.

Every year I ask myself how I can cultivate more balance, presence, and joy during this busy time. Even though I often do a pretty good job, I still have several moments of being uber-stressed out and way too busy. But as you know, the power of the pause is something that all empowered women benefit from, especially because it has the capacity to bring us back to ourselves and what really matters to us.

So why don’t we agree to give ourselves the invaluable gift of peace and presence this holiday season? To do this, simply commit to taking a little time each day to pause, breathe, and move into gratitude in the weeks leading up to 2016.

I created Women For One so I could surround myself with a supportive community of like-minded individuals who would carry me through challenging times. It’s my hope that we can all be here for each other, especially in a period of the year that tends to be so fraught not only with family and celebration, but also with busy-ness and stress. So leave a comment below to let me know how your personal commitment to peace and presence is going. I’d love to hear about your experience of pausing, breathing, and taking stock of the beauty and wonder of your life during this hectic holiday season.

You’ll probably discover that simply breathing and moving your body are helpful when it comes to becoming more present, especially to the blessings of your life. That said, check out my interview with the fabulous Erin Stutland, who makes moving your body a fun, empowering, and lifelong journey that you’ll always want to make time for. You will be inspired by her teachings, which I decided to challenge myself with because of its simplicity and power. It’s the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one, as you connect to your New Year’s “resolutions” and think about how you would like to experience even more joy and vitality.

Most of all, remember to make the holidays what you want them to be, mistletoe and eggnog be damned! Each and every one of us deserves to choose our life and how we want to experience it, so please make yours one to write home about.