3 Meditations to Bring More Calm to Your Holidays

For many of us, the holiday season stirs up deep emotions. As we look toward Christmas gatherings, maybe you’re anticipating moments of connection—or bracing for conflict. Maybe you’re feeling the weight of complicated relationships or wondering how you’ll show up when it feels like there’s no common ground. I invite you to take a few moments to center yourself before the holidays, starting with these three meditations I created.

1) Before Your Holiday Gathering

Click to listen to the Creating Your Sanctuary Guided Visualization Practice

In this seven-minute guided visualization, you’ll imagine an inner sanctuary that represents your source of calm, strength, and wisdom. Within this sanctuary, you’ll discover a warm, radiant light—your inner strength—centered in your body.

Next, you’ll visualize a challenging situation, seeing yourself handle it with confidence, patience, and compassion, supported by the strength of your sanctuary.

This practice helps you feel empowered and grounded, so you can approach any moment with clarity. Remember, this sanctuary is always within you, ready to guide and comfort you whenever needed.

2) During Your Holiday Gathering

Click to listen to the Pause, Breath, And Reset Technique

This simple technique will help you to recenter by using the “Pause, Breath, Reset” tool. You can listen to the guided audio anytime you need it, and once you get the method down, you can have it in your back pocket at any moment.

Pause: Pull back from the situation physically or mentally
Breath: Take 3-5 conscious breaths, focusing on the air entering and leaving your body. Notice your feet firmly on the ground, and your hands gently in your lap. Silently repeat an affirmation such as “I am grounded.”
Reset: Remind yourself that you get as many fresh starts as you need. Set a simple intention to help guide you during your next interaction such as, “I choose peace.”

3) After Your Holiday Gathering

Click to listen to the Guided Body Scan For Stress Release

This guided body scan practice is designed to help you reconnect with your body and release any tension lingering after a stressful situation. It involves moving your attention through different parts of your body, noticing where stress is held, and gently letting it go.

By bringing awareness to each area and breathing into moments of tightness, you can return to a state of relaxation and presence. This practice promotes mindfulness and helps ground you in the present moment, making it easier to move forward with a sense of peace.

Bonus: Create an affirmation card keyring

Sometimes you don’t even have 5 minutes to listen to a meditation, and I get that. I like to take index cards, punch a hole through the corner, put them on a keyring, and write affirmations. I can throw it in my purse and pull it out when I need a little moment of encouragement. Only write affirmations that feel true and resonate with you, otherwise, you'll just annoy yourself.