#91: The Gift of the Present: How to Honor Your Light This Season

Instead of burning out this holiday season, keep your light shining even amidst the chaos that might seem to surround you. 

It's the season of rush, rush, rush. And because it is, easy to get overwhelmed with worries of getting all the things done--gifts for everyone on your list, coordinating schedules to celebrate Christmas, attending gatherings, and of course, doing the things you want to do just for fun in the spirit of the season. In this episode, I'll tell you:

1. How you can offer up the gift of the present this season
2. What it means to connect with your own light
3. How to protect your light from being burnt out by the New Year

Resources:
Register for the Winter Solstice Candlelight Yoga Celebration of Rhythms here

Check out the Winter Recharge: A Virtual Pampering Week During the Holidays here*
*This is an affiliate link so if you end up purchasing the VIP package, I do receive a portion of that purchase back.

Other Resources:
How We Feel App (Android)
How We Feel App (iPhone)

Stop cycling between burnout and recovery - grab your Daily Rhythms Tracker to get started.

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More Episodes Like This One:
#87: Finding Harmony in Life's Unexpected Challenges
#72: Stop Overwhelm: The 1 Thing Your To-do List is Missing
#71: Trying Harder Isn't Always the Way to Find Your Edge

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Episode Transcript

Cathy (00:00):
It's a season of rush, rush, rush.

(00:03):
And because it is, it's easy toget overwhelmed with worries of
getting all the things done.
Gifts for everyone on your list,coordinating schedules to
celebrate Christmas attendinggatherings.
And of course doing the thingsyou want to do just for fun in
the spirit of the season.
In this episode, I'll tell youhow you can offer up the gift of
the present this season.

(00:23):
What it means to connect withyour own light and how to
protect your light from beingburnt out by the new year.

@Cathy (01:31):
Hey friends., Welcome to episode 91.
And thank you for being heretoday.
I want to talk about slowingdown in this season of rushing.
The season when we arereflecting on the past year,
preparing and looking ahead.
The season when we often placemore of an emphasis on outward
expressions than inwardwitnessing.

(01:55):
When we witness or observe.
We are present, not thinking ofthe past, nor worrying about the
unknown.
But being present is amindfulness practice that we
learned through things likeyoga, breath, work, meditation,
prayer.
And it has to do with reflectinginward and rediscovering or
reconnecting with the lightwithin.

(02:17):
Now I believe that we all have alight that was given to us by
the one true light.
And our light is a reflection ofthat true light of the season.

Cathy (02:27):
The reason we celebrate Christmas, God's love for us
through Jesus Christ.
The light of the world that cameto bring us out of darkness,
also shines in each one of us.
And we have the ability to sharethat light with the world.
Which is a pretty cool thing, inmy opinion.
I like to think of your light askind of like the spirit you
bring into this world.

(02:48):
When you share it with others,it feels easy and light and it
looks like love.
For some, that light might beshining brightly both inside and
out.
But for others.
It may be a little bit dim.
A dim light maybe obvious on theoutside.
Or it might be hidden away,covered by a bright facade.

(03:11):
If your light is shiningbrightly inside and out this
year.
How can you extend your light tohelp someone else's grow
brighter?
Even just for a moment.
You see, when we do this, Thisamazing thing happens.
When we intentionally give ourlight away.
We don't have to fear runningout of it because quite the

(03:33):
opposite happens.
Our own light actually continuesto grow maybe even brighter than
before.
And we've helped someone else'slight shine.
When we use the gift we aregiven to help others, it's given
back to us even more.
But it can also be easy to getswept away in all the to-dos and

(03:53):
let the fullness and busy-nessof the season dampen our light.
Especially after everything issaid and done, after all the
guests have gone home, all theparties are over the presents
have been given and you're lefta moment of quiet to recover.
This is when, if you're notmindful during the rush of the
season, you're light can burnoutand you can feel that sense of

(04:14):
burnout.
So, how do you ensure you enterthe new year, which is a new
cycle of life feeling that lightstill burn instead of feeling
burnt out?
Well, if you've been aroundhere, You have to know that this
one's coming.
The first thing you need to dois listen to your inner guidance
during the midst of thebusy-ness and chaos, and make a

(04:36):
plan ahead of time to nurturethat guidance and recharge your
batteries.
And I know what you might bethinking.
That sounds kind ofcounterintuitive....
listen to what your body iscalling for before it's actually
calling for it?
Yes.
Yes.
My friends.
You have plenty of data in yourmind bank of how this season has
gone for you in the past andenough vision to imagine how you

(04:57):
actually want it to go.
So this is your permission tobring these two elements
together and actually takeaction on making that vision a
reality if it hasn't been orcontinue to enrich it if you
already have made progresstowards it.
You know what recharges andrestores you.
So you can plan for that insteadof waiting until everything's

(05:19):
over.
During stressful times, you needto reconnect with your light
often in order to honor yourselfand others, and when you are a
busy person and have a lot goingon in your life, kind of like
you probably are if you'relistening to this show, you have
to make a plan for those timeswhen you know you're going to
need more nurturing.

(05:39):
I just had this conversationwith my son this morning about
something else.
And I reflected how.
When I know I'm coming into astressful season.
Like this season.
I know that I have to plan extrapockets of nurturing.
In for myself.
So I don't feel so anxious, so Idon't feel so worried.
And I don't.
Um, get so irritable.
And same thing for him.
He has to make a plan for thesethings or the situation that we

(06:03):
were talking about.
So he knows how to nurturehimself.
And so that's what I'm tellingto you guys.
And honestly, I've got twothings that can help you do
this, this December.
If you're local.
I'm offering a winter solstice,candlelight yoga celebration of
rhythms class on Thursday,December 21st.
And it's at one of our localgreenhouses.
So we can be in a heated outdoorspace.

(06:23):
Practicing yoga on the shortestdaylight day in the year, which
is pretty cool.
I'll drop the link to that inthe show notes.
If you're interested, I wouldlove to have you.
And the second thing is whetheryou're local or not, you can
take part in a virtual,intentional winter recharge that
week between Christmas and newyears.

(06:44):
I'm going to be a part of thisas a presenter.
Um, but this is a special weekdedicated to self care and
relaxation for moms.
So it's just for you people outthere who feel like you have a
ton going on in your life andneed time to chill.
Even if you're not a mom, thiswould actually benefit you
because I have looked at thelineup of what the other
presenters are going to beoffering up.

(07:06):
And it is very cool.
There are some really neatthings and neat ways that you
can help yourself slow down andrecharge your own batteries this
season.
During this week, you canindulge in sessions, designed to
rejuvenate and empower.
You can claim your free spot andcelebrate being a mom and making
it through another year.

(07:26):
Quite honestly, right?
Uh, winter recharge is filledwith prerecorded videos and free
goodies from a variety ofpresenters, like I said, myself
included.
To help you plan nurturing intoa time of year that wraps up a
typically pretty stressfulseasoned.
And all of the videos andgoodies are available December
26th through the 29th, you cansign up now, but the videos go

(07:48):
live during that week andthey're available for free
during that week.
But if you purchase the VIP passat a deeply discounted rate,
when you first register, youhave access to those videos for
life.
So you don't have to feel likeyou have to get through them all
in.
Um, just in that short week, youhave a little bit more time.
Will you have your lifetime toget through them?

(08:09):
And, uh, and they're prettycool.
Some of them you might want torefer back to.
So if you'd like to register orjust see what the presentations
will be, that are part of thatweek long event, I've put a link
in the show notes for you.
All right back to how to keepyour light from burning out
before the new year.
The second way of keeping yourlight from burning out before
the new year.

(08:30):
Is to surround yourself withcommunity, even if you're an
introvert.
You want to surround yourselfwith community that doesn't burn
you out, but instead lights youup.
These are the people you can beyour own authentic self with and
who reciprocate the light youhave to give.
It might just be close family orone other friend, or it might be

(08:51):
attending a class, kind of likethe candlelight yoga with
like-minded people or people youwant to think like, just so that
you can experience their energy.
Science tells us that we thrivein community rather than
isolation.
So even if that community isjust one or two other people,
find those people in your lifeand fill each other up.

(09:13):
And finally the third part ofensuring that you are not burnt
out going into the new year.
And that you nurture yourselfthis busy holiday season.
Is, um, Is to remember that whenyou do these things, whether
it's making a plan orsurrounding yourself with
community that you have to allowthe time you take to actually

(09:35):
recharge or rekindle your lightto create a calm presence,
amidst the chaos so that you canbe fully present for whatever
may lie in front of you.
This means you have to slow downand actually take in what you're
doing instead of just rushingthrough it.
And by doing so the gift of yourpresence or present moment

(09:55):
awareness reflects the truelight within you.
It communicates the importanceof your light, not only to your
inner self, who by the way,needs to know that you.
see it and want to connect withit.
But it.
also shares the light of theworld with others by reflecting
love when you slow down and giveyour presence.
To bring calm to the chaos ofthe season.

(10:16):
The key is to honor the light,the light of this world, which
is reflected into you from theone true light Jesus Christ.
Your light is a gift and itneeds to be seen by the world,
but it can easily burn out ifyou don't take care of it.
And that's really easy to do,especially in this busy season.

(10:37):
So set expectations aside.
Give the gift of the presentthis year, first to yourself, so
that you know with your wholeself, that it's okay to actually
slow down and be present forothers too.
Your nervous system will muchbetter be able to handle the
busy-ness if you firstcommunicate to it that it's okay

(10:57):
to be present for yourself tolisten to your inner guidance.
And when something feels heavyto perhaps let it go, instead of
forcing it.
So the three things that Isuggest to keep you from burning
out before the new year are toone, listen to your inner
guidance and make a plan tonurture and recharge it.
And two surround yourself withcommunity that lets you be your

(11:19):
authentic self.
And finally three, allow yourintentional efforts to bring you
to presence.
A place where you're not worriedabout the past or what you
could've done differently oroverthinking the future or
what's to come.
The presence you create withyourself will allow your light
to shine, even brighter, givingpeace and joy to those around

(11:39):
you.
And that my friends is creatinga sense of calm, amidst the
rhythm of chaos.
Truly honoring the Peace thatthis season is supposed to be
all about.
If you know of someone out therewho needs to hear this message
who needs to know that theirlight matters, that they need to
keep shining brightly, But thatthey can only do that if they

(12:00):
take care of themselves passthis episode on to them and see
what might happen when you do.
I'm Cathy Struecker and you'vebeen listening to health,
harmony, and happiness withCathy cheers to cultivating your
own version of health, harmony,and happiness some way every day
in your life.