Be a Palm Tree this Holiday Season

The holidays are upon on. With the hustle and bustle of festive TV commercials, sugary coffee drinks and present buying, things can be thrown into stark relief for some of us. The holidays, while celebratory for some, can be quite the opposite for others. For many of us social anxiety, worries about finances, concerns about the pandemic, isolation and work life balance are just a few things that may be in the back of our mind. Now this may all feel a little too much after reading that list, but there is a cheeky little trick that you may want to consider when you start to feel like things aren't going your way or life just feels a bit overwhelming.

Be a palm tree.

Now, you may be thinking, "What in the world?" Trust me, it's a neat trick that is not only fun, but it really puts life into perspective. A palm tree is quite flexible. It bends and sways in the cool sea breeze but always comes right back to its original position once the wind fades away. We humans can relate by using the term flexible. Or better yet...resilient.

Resiliency is something that we humans have mastered in the past 18+ months. Dealing with a global pandemic, working from home with children/pets, managing new financial concerns and worries about the health of both ourselves and our loved has really pushed us to step up to the plate of life. Whether we were managing alone or with people around us, we persevered through. As you read this, take a moment to reflect and congratulate yourself. You survived, you woke up and you chose to push forward. That deserves a fist pump! Now emulating a palm tree is no different. Mindfully moving with the ebb and flow of life (or as I like to say, flexing your resiliency) creates this sense of courage and confidence within yourself. It is the realization that you are handling the very thing you wanted to avoid or push away. Be that an annoying cousin, a difficult conversation, meeting new people or spending time alone. The How: Evoke the Palm Tree You may be thinking this is all great, but what do you actually do? Well, you evoke the palm tree. Here's an example: If a wave of loneliness hits you, with awareness, make note of the thoughts starting to fill your mind. If loneliness manifests as a feeling in your body, pay attention there. As you make note that you are beginning to feel lonely, evoke the palm tree. In your mind, imagine a palm tree, swaying in the sea breeze with the sun gently beating down on its leafy head. You watch as the tree sways to the left, and then to the right but always coming back to it's home as the breeze fades. As you reflect back on your own feelings, think about how resilient you have been in your life. How much you have achieved on your own, as a strong human, navigating life. This is your way of swaying in the breeze and coming back to your original state of being. You can apply this to every thought process, using this as a tropical reminder to be flexible and resilient. It takes time, but with practice and mindfulness, evoking your inner palm tree can become a nifty little tool to use during the holidays. Will you give it a try? #satuppada #holidays #resiliency #mindfulness #beapalmstree #mindfultips