So This Is Christmas…
Filed Under: Holiday Eating
19 December 2021 | Written by Xenia Ayiotis
After almost two years the pandemic is dragging on and our resilience is dwindling. Christmas is approaching and many of us want and need togetherness with our loved ones more than ever before. We’re in the middle of a bumpy ride and just as we come up for air, it seems that there’s more turbulence around the corner. In addition to this, preparing for the festive season can be stressful.
This is the second Christmas that will be different for many of us. If this Christmas is likely to be easy for you and there are no difficulties, celebrate this and enjoy this time!
But for those of us who may be struggling, what do we do if we don’t feel “merry”? What if you are approaching this Christmas season with worry and fear for the future and sorrow for what has happened this past year?
You may be spending time with family where dynamics are tense, stressful and unpredictable. There may be unrealistic demands on you. All of these holiday stressors can lead to overeating. Given that this time is so strange with the ongoing pandemic, many emotions might come up. And of course with that, triggers to overeat. Eating is a way to distract ourselves from uncomfortable feelings. It’s a way to offer ourselves comfort and pleasure and a way to avoid pain. People eat emotionally in response to unmet needs and right now, we are living in an unusual and difficult time. Most of us are experiencing many unmet needs. Our core human needs include safety, security and human connection which are all seriously lacking these days.
Right now it’s so important to attend to our needs and to stay present to the teachings of the season.
No matter the challenges we face, let us not forget that Christmas is also a time of birth, of life and of hope. Christmas is a time of miracles. It’s about believing and having faith. The stories that surround Christmas show us that even when things are dark there is light and hope.
With everything that has happened and whatever the circumstances around your Christmas, as we celebrate very differently this year, let’s count our blessings and be grateful for the gift of special and ordinary moments. “I hope it’s a good one, without any fear” as John Lennon sings. Let us believe and retain our hopes and dreams of a brighter future.
Warmest wishes to all who celebrate, for a peaceful and blessed Christmas.
Wishing you peace and joy in this time,
Xen
Needing support with eating in the holidays? Here are some resources that can help you eat with more freedom and ease:
- Eat, Drink and Be Mindfully Merry This Festive Season
- Joyful Eating in the Holidays: Enjoy the Food and Festivities with Peace and Joy
- Food Guilt Meditation
- How to Deal with “Friendly” Food Pushers
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