"Every December, the world asks us to do something paradoxical: slow down and speed up at the same time. We're expected to savor the season and survive it. To be present and be productive. In rooms that contain the entire history of your family dynamics? We're told to "Calm down!" (No one, in the history of calming down, has "calmed down" because they were told to do so.)"
"When I first began my journey into mindfulness, I was relieved to learn that it wasn't about "relaxing" or letting my "mind go blank." Instead, Mindfulness begins with a simple invitation: Notice what is here.I like, for example, noting the warmth of the mug full of Earl Grey tea between my palms. The relief my chest feels when I unsnap my bra buckles. The way my shoulders creep upward when my father-in-law brings up politics."
Holiday periods create competing demands to savor and to perform, producing stress that common slogans like "Calm down" or "Prioritize" fail to resolve. Mindfulness trains attention through noticing present sensations and strengthens brain regions such as the anterior cingulate cortex and the insula, which support focus and interoceptive awareness. Stoicism engages prefrontal circuits that enable cognitive reframing of stress and allow wiser responses. Both approaches reduce amygdala reactivity, rely on accurate perception before action, and together can restore equilibrium and enhance emotional regulation under pressure.
Read at Psychology Today
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