A Season of Stress or Serenity?

We can celebrate the Advent season with intention and serenity. Advent as a period of hope, waiting, and reflection, with benefits for overall well-being all through the year, regardless of one's beliefs.

Pausing to breathe, simplifying expectations, cultivating hope, embracing rest, and finding community - these are all steps to a more serene season.

To join the 'Season of Serenity' Advent Community to share in this journey of peace and hope, blending sacred themes with the power of aromatherapy.

JOIN HERE.

00:00 Welcome to Advent Season

00:35 Embracing Celtic Advent Traditions

01:50 The Deeper Meaning of Advent

04:16 Creating a Season of Serenity

07:47 Practical Tips for a Peaceful Advent

13:27 Join the Advent Community

16:29 Conclusion: Choosing Serenity Over Stress

Transcript

0:59

Welcome to another extraordinary week. We are in December and when I'm recording this, which also means it's the beginning of Advent season. Now, Advent season is a time of hope, waiting, and anticipation. It's a sacred invitation to pause and reflect on the beauty of what is to come. And no matter what you believe, those are really good ideas for overall wellbeing, really for at present. But as Christmas approaches I'm sure many of you have countdowns and have activities planned things that you need to get done, things you're looking forward to. I love to focus on Advent I actually joined in with a tradition of Celtic advent and the Celtic Christians start with 40 days out. And so I've been preparing myself for this and just really trying to embrace something that's unfamiliar and sometimes for the sake of our overall wellbeing. And when we Especially if you have been in a faith tradition, a Christian tradition for a really long time, these stories are really familiar, and it can be really easy to just glaze over them as because they're familiar, and there's something in psychology about it. Novelty and breaking ourselves out of the familiar into the unfamiliar. So I'm going to talk about Advent today and I'm going to talk about the whole season because I think it's also something that we can carry out throughout our lives for overall well being and certainly for our well being. journey of our faith journey, and which is really what this is about for me. I think that is at my core. So the Advent is a season of time, hope, and anticipation is a sacred invitation really to pause and reflect on the beauty of what is to come. A lot of times what happens is Christmas approaches and the season can feel anything but serene, the pressure of gifts, shopping decorating, attending social gatherings, and fulfilling all the family obligations can make it really easy to lose sight of the deeper meaning of Advent. I went really light on my decorations this year, and I was intentional about that so I could actually enjoy the process with recent events and especially just what we've been through as far as Jean, my husband's health. And this year it was just, a time to focus on serenity and what that brings. And I actually resisted. I had a really great idea in the shower to have an Advent community and I got really excited about it. And then I got really overwhelmed by it. And I made a decision to pull back from that a little bit and just do what feels right, what feels good and what is not stressful and overwhelming. I couldn't shake that completely. It just kept coming back to me and I felt like I was going to miss something. It was almost a prompt. You probably had those before in your life where you just feel like you need to do something. Even if maybe there's a little resistance there, regardless. That might be. And that might be a lot, why we do some of the things we do, because we're afraid of if we miss this, or if we don't, if we let go of something, a tradition that we will regret it. So it's really takes a it takes some intention to sort through what I should be doing, what I could be doing, because not everything that we should do is something that we should do. And I guess you've probably heard it say just because you can doesn't mean you should. And so all of those things, all of that, that, that idea in mind regardless. many of the demands that are on us in this season create stress and exhaustion and even a sense of disappointment when the perfect holiday seems perpetually in the works. out of reach. We have Hallmark probably to thank for that. I know I talked a little bit about the meaning of the meaningful nature of Hallmark and what they get right. And I would say, what do they get maybe they put out there that isn't reality is all of the perfect cookies, all the perfect decorations and the ease of which that happens. Regardless, I started to ask, what if this year could be different? And I asked myself actually that every single year, what if this year could be different? What if Advent could truly be a season of serenity, the opportunity to rest in hope embrace simplicity and prepare our hearts for the promises of Christmas. Now Advent at its core is a season of waiting. It mirrors that quiet expectation of a seed buried in the soil, waiting for the warmth and light to draw it into fullness. Waiting can feel uncomfortable and our culture often will equate waiting with inaction, but Waiting in hope is transformative. It's often a reminder that we don't need to force perfection. Hope really grows quietly and often unseen, and just like those seeds that we plant, it blooms when we are, maybe sometimes even when we're not expecting it. So to help. You us embrace this season with peace and intention. I'm going to invite you to join me in a season of serenity This is the time that we can weave the themes of Advent with some of the tools that we use in every day and my hope is that with this that we don't isolate this experience, that we take some normal things, some things that we do from all year round into it, and we assign some additional meaning to it. for me, that's aromatherapy. So I'm going to offer that tool. And for creating that sanctuary in your mind and body and spirit, and together through that experience, we can explore how simple intentional practices can help us really reclaim the meaning of this season. So I like to break things in frameworks. I like to create strategies and systems. And we actually talked about this last night on our book club. I have a yes book club where we read a personal growth book every month. You're certainly invited to join that if you'd like. the link is below in the notes. So just click that link and you can join there. But. because of the work and the study that I've done and knowing how our brains work, and how if we train them to cooperate with us in the way we want to show up, probably means developing some strategies or some systems. So here's a little framework to approach Advent with serenity and hope. So taking in this season, regardless of what you believe. Now I'm focused on really studying the story And experiencing the story of waiting for Jesus, waiting for the Messiah to show up and waiting for that hope that we have for the kingdom of God on earth now and to come. So this is where. where my heart and my soul is and where my focus is. You really can take this in no matter what you believe, because this is something applicable to all of our lives. And I'd love for you to join me on this. And if you're somebody who is still exploring. the, what faith and what you really believe, I'm going to encourage you to step out of the familiar. Even if you have always believed a certain way, or it's been something that you just grew up in and you've taken it for granted. this is that opportunity for, to embrace some things that are unfamiliar. And to examine what you really believe in, are you experiencing the truth of all of that and the beauty of all of that? So first, just the first step would just be to pause to breathe. And when you start to feel rushed in the holidays, make space to breathe. in the day to pause and center yourself. I have a ritual that when I walk through a doorway, that's an opportunity for me to reset. I might touch the doorway. I might just acknowledge the doorway, but it's a time to just pause and consider how I want to enter the room or the next space that I'm going into. Even a couple minutes of intentional breathing can ground you in the present moment. And of course, using essential oils like frankincense and lavender to enhance this practice just choose a trigger or something that you experience, for me, it's doorways to make that space to pause and center yourself. So just taking a few deep breaths. Now you can also set up a diffuser and inhale in such oils from. In your space. Or you can inhale them directly from your hands as you take slow, deep breaths. Oils can really help us calm our mind and ground us into that moment. It's just a way to open our hearts. And in this case to the hope that Advent represents. Now, so first pause to breathe. Second, simplify your expectations. So perfection is the enemy of progress and peace. Release that pressure to create the perfect holiday experience. Embrace that whatever your experience is perfect. It's what's needed. It's just part of your human experience, the story of you. And so instead focus on those moments that truly matter. So connecting with loved ones and connecting with friends, enjoying meaningful traditions and carving out quiet time for yourself. Those are all ways to do that. In one of the Hallmark movies that I watched over the weekend the main character had Her significant other broke up with her and she had planned to send him five Christmas cards one every day that week. And she took that moment and she repurposed her plans instead of getting down or throwing the cards away or really, or sinking into despair. She took that moment and she repurposed those cards writing and sent them to five people that were most meaningful in her life. One of them included a teacher that she hadn't seen in decades. And another was a pop star who she had never met just sending these cards. And then you saw the ripple effect of what happened in the lives of those people when they found out that what they do matters. So maybe that's something to think about repurposing some of the things that don't go well. You could make them maybe serve their original purpose. The other thing is to just reflect on the story of Advent. It's the greatest hope that entered the world in the simplest of settings, a humble manger. We hear that story a lot and we can skip over it. We, it gets covered up by some of the commercialism of Christmas, but really taking a look at that story is remarkable. The human. experience of all of that, even in the stories that, like I said, we tend to maybe glaze over because we've heard them over and over again. Let those inspire you to find that beauty in simplicity this season. All right. So we're going to take some deep breaths. We're going to simplify expectations and then cultivate hope every day. Advent is a time of preparation, not only for the celebration of Christmas, but for that deeper connection with hope. So begin each day with a reflection. What are you hoping for? How can you carry that hope into your day? Again, we can use essential oils like citrus. Bergamot is a fabulous one. Wild orange to brighten your mood and energize your spirit. And these oils can be again, diffused. To, and added to a morning ritual, reminding you to approach the day with expectancy and joy. I have a diffuser in my bathroom that I turn on and a lot of times it's a Bergamot or Wild Orange. what isn't it right now? I think it's eucalyptus and spearmint in there right now but some uplifting, energizing aromas to start your day with, and then take this time to really cultivate that hope. fourth, we can make sure we embrace rest and reflection. The busyness of this time often robs us of rest, but rest is essential for any kind of serenity that you're going to experience. So carve out that time for reflection, take some time with a journal, meditate, or simply sit in stillness, get your coffee and just sit, be alone, be quiet. And allow that time, you might want to even set a timer for that. I was in searching for gifts. I ran into those, the candles and I was reminded that they make these tiny candles that are meant for meditation and you light them and you meditate as long as that candle is burning So maybe you want to get some meditation candles or again, set a timer on your phone, just to give yourself that intentional time to just sit, even just to be with you. also consider ending your day with a calming blend of cedar wood or Roman chamomile lavender. There's a, actually a blend called that doTERRA makes called Serenity, that would be a nice one to pair with this season and just promote all of those help to promote a restful sleep and to read so that your energy is renewed the next day. So really embracing rest. And then fifth, find community in the journey. Hope is magnified when it is shared. And I shared earlier that I almost did not do the community aspect of my Advent journey. And I just couldn't let it go. And I felt because I'm feeling so prompted to do this, I just didn't do it. And then when I, when I. When I go into a community, I know that I cannot predict who's going to show up, who's going to join in, what that interaction is going to be like. So there's a surprise there and it's always transformative. the lessons that we learn from others and the different perspectives that we gain by interacting in community, so surrounding yourself with others who seek peace and joy this season, that's a really great way to get grounded in these practices, because together we can create that atmosphere of encouragement and accountability that you can have running in the back of your mind. have that be your playlist when you're moving about and doing some of the things of, that, of, that seem more busy. So I'm going to invite you to join what I'm calling a season of serenity, where we're going to blend the some sacred themes of Advent with the transformative power of aromatherapy. I've created a weekly guide and a community space where we can be listening to the same music in And reading the same readings and probably experiencing them very different. I've done this many times over in busy person retreats and different retreat settings. And I'm always amazed at how all of the different perspectives come together and really create something beautiful. So. Again, we read the same things, we're listening to the same things, experiencing the same themes, but we experience them very differently. And then just offering that perspective to the community to really balance out maybe some of the other perspectives and bring them to fullness. these guided practices and shared reflections, the intention really is to cultivate that piece in the midst of the demands of the season and bring us together on common ground and complete our story that might be limited if we go on the journey by ourselves. I hope you will join in. The link is in the notes. so scroll down, click on that, and I will send you everything that you need to know about joining that. There is no cost. Like I said, I had this idea a month ago, and I got really excited about it, then I got overwhelmed, then I dropped it, created my own personal busy person's retreat, and then thought I really want to share this. I started talking about it to some friends who also wanted to join, and then it turned into I need to do this and see what happens and see what is possible. So I hope you will join me and and others in this experience of Advent. Advent is a glimpse of our realized hope. It's a foretaste of joy and peace and love that are to come. And by embracing this season with intention and simplicity, we can experience the, really the richness and carry its lessons beyond Christmas day I learned something every Advent season that I lean into and carry it from one year to the next and it's amazing to see the transformation that happens when we lean into the. The hope of the season when we lean into community and we share our experience and go on the journey with others that are really aspiring to the same thing. So this year, let's choose serenity over stress, presence over perfection, and hope over hurry. Together, we can make Advent a time of profound peace and preparing our hearts, not just for the celebration of Christmas, but for that deeper lasting hope that it represents as we reimagine wellness. So will you join me? Let's light the candle of hope and step into a season of serenity. One breath, one moment, one day at a time as you go out every day and default to yes, your extraordinary self.