In the midst of all the festivities, it is estimated that a large percentage of us have the “Christmas blues”: sadness and stress that can be hard to shake off. Showing love and compassion toward ourselves and others can help us overcome the inevitable disappointments caused by social expectations, family dynamics, and financial concerns.
The heart chakra is the seat of love and compassion. It is the season of forgiveness, the best gift you can give yourself, your family and friends. Use this HEART CHAKRA MEDITATION to move towards this goal…
Breathe in and out a beautiful emerald green in the center of your chest, the home of the heart chakra, with love, joy and compassion for other people and yourself. Feel any tension blocking the flow here, shutting off or excluding love. Any anger or fear has passed, it can be healed. When you let go, you will feel your true essence of love and joy. To send forgiveness, wrap those who have caused you pain in the bright green light, clearing and healing the situation. Free yourself and them of any negative connection, keeping only the good. Let go of anger so you have room for love to grow. Now, with love and compassion, wrap yourself and your entire life experience in healing green light.
Spread the love. Don’t expect a duplicate of an ideal vacation from years past. Changes like divorce, the death of a loved one, or distance from family and friends can cause depression. So create new traditions, fill your calendar with fun events, and meet new people. Don’t wait for others to include you in their holiday parties – invite those without family to a potluck at your home.
Strengthen your mood through movement and music. Exercise (yoga, walk, run) to beat depression, move to music that lifts your spirits. Try to get at least 20 minutes of sunlight a day to combat any chemical causes of the Christmas funk. Exercise your mind too – read inspiring stories about those who have overcome adversity and succeeded. May I suggest The Chakra Diaries?
Express your gratitude. Count your blessings, taking stock of all the positive aspects of your life. It will quickly brighten your mood. Ask yourself what you are most grateful for and who you are most grateful for. So tell them if you can.
Give of yourself Helping others is the best antidote to seasonal sadness and self-pity. Volunteer at a local charity, homeless shelter, hospital, or nursing home. Make someone else smile and in the end, you will be the one to smile.
The Dalai Lama recently wrote: “In my own experience, the highest level of inner calm comes from developing love and compassion. The more we care about the happiness of others, the more we increase our own well-being. Kindness and Warmth towards others allows us to relax and helps us dispel any feelings of fear or insecurity so that we can overcome any obstacles we face.