Holiday Stress

Photos via My Morning Coffee on Tumblr.

I’m feeling heavy today. My mind seems to be running wild with worries.

When will I be done fighting this cold? My schedule is so busy.

The holidays are coming up. Can I afford to buy that gift when I still have one more teacher training payment left?

Work projects are making my head spin. It’s hard to concentrate when I feel tired and sneezy…

I wasn’t expecting a text from a family member I haven’t talked to in months. For some reason, reading his message made my heart feel heavy. What will I say to him? I wonder if my yoga and meditation practice are stirring up old hurt that I’m ready to move through now. Now I’m thinking about past relationships, and my future, and yet wanting to live in the present moment…

Yesterday at my yoga studio I overheard a teacher talking to a student about how she’s been noticing people in classes lately are moody. “It must be the holidays – everybody’s grumpy and angry!” she said. “You can feel it as soon as you walk into the room.”

The two of them laughed about how at this time of year we let ourselves get stressed out.

“You know what I’m going to do between now and Christmas?” she said. “I’m going to make a commitment to get to a class at the studio every day. Even if that means getting up at 5:45 so I can fit my yoga in.”

Today, while things feel chaotic, I am reminded of the value of making time for my practice. I commit to getting on my mat.

Today I’ve gone through the process of getting upset, observing myself overreact, and allowing myself to sit with the feeling of discomfort for a moment rather than turning to the nearest distraction for momentary relief. Instead of letting the worries run wild, I took a moment to look at them and figure out what was really bothering me. I made a list of what’s priority—what I can take care of now, and what I can let go of. And I made a promise to myself to practice yoga today as part of that letting go.

Ultimately, I realized: I’ll be OK. I always am. This becomes clear every time I take a moment to breathe, to reconnect. When I make an effort to consciously be more grateful for the blessings I have, or to ask for the help I need. This moment of heaviness will pass.

Namaste.