As the holiday season approaches, many of us are familiar with the mix of emotions that come along with it. The joy of reuniting with loved ones often comes hand-in-hand with the stress of planning gatherings, buying gifts, and rekindling conversations that may be uncomfortable. This time of year can bring about feelings of anxiety and stress, making it crucial to find ways to manage our emotional well-being. One practice that can be particularly helpful during this time is the “heart check,” a simple yet effective way to become aware of our emotions and their origins.
A heart check involves taking a moment to pause and reflect on what we are feeling. It is about coming into awareness of our emotions and understanding where they stem from. By doing this daily practice, we can identify our heavy emotions, such as stress or anxiety, and work towards alleviating their weight. This practice encourages us to ask ourselves what we are feeling, whether we can label these emotions, and when we started feeling this way. By backtracking through our emotions, we can pinpoint the triggers causing our discomfort and unease.
For instance, if we identify that we are feeling anxious about upcoming holiday gatherings, it could stem from the fear of encountering people or situations we’d rather avoid. Recognizing this anxiety allows us to take proactive steps to address it. This is where the heart check practice becomes transformative. By inviting a sense of spirituality or personal belief into the process, such as prayer or meditation, we can hand over our worries to a higher power. This act of surrender helps lighten the burden we’ve been carrying, bringing peace and understanding into our lives.
The practice of heart check not only helps in managing stress but also shifts our perspective. It allows us to see life through a lens of gratitude, appreciating what we have rather than focusing on what we lack. This perspective of seeing the glass half full can change how we approach not only the holiday season but life in general. By fostering gratitude, we can walk through our days with a lighter spirit, filled with love and light, even amidst the holiday hustle and bustle.
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Kurt Francom
Guest Author
Jill Holmes
