Never fear, like that awkward elf on a shelf arriving against all odds every morning, your friendly neighborhood introvert (and meditation expert) is here with my three best practices for thriving—not just surviving—during the holidays! Reflect on these questions and anything else that stirs up happy memories for you. Based on your answers, create a mindful game plan to set yourself up for success ahead of this holiday. This way, you’ll be less reactive to inevitable plot twists, and more likely to respond from a place of connection. This year, set healthy boundaries as an act of self-love. I recommend reverse engineering this by reflecting on how you want to feel at the end of the month and then asking yourself, “What does that desired future version of me require of the present-moment me?” Make a list and then create the boundaries that you are going to mindfully assert in your life. Here’s what this looks like in action: In the past when I’ve felt overwhelmed with proposed social commitments, I’ve adopted this response: “Thank you so much for thinking to include me. I have a lot on my plate and won’t be able to fully commit until (insert a date closer to the event when you’ll have a better gauge on your feelings). Let me know if that works for you, and know that I completely understand if it doesn’t because you need a hard commitment earlier for planning purposes.”
