The Power of Pausing
The holiday season carries so much beauty—magic, giving, wonder, joy, and love.
And at the same time, it can quietly become one of the busiest, most expensive, and emotionally draining times of the year.
I feel this tension every December.
The pull to do more.
The pressure to keep up.
The subtle sense that if I don’t slow myself down, the season will pass me by.
Over the years, I’ve learned that staying grounded during the holidays isn’t about escaping the chaos—it’s about creating small, intentional pauses within it.
The Power of Pausing
Pauses to breathe.
Pauses to listen.
Pauses to return to myself.
Even a few minutes a day can soften the noise and help us reconnect with what truly matters. When practiced consistently, these moments of stillness can transform the holidays into something simpler, more meaningful, and far more nourishing.
A Simple Holiday Meditation Practice
For the next month, I’m inviting you to join me in a gentle daily meditation using the Shanti Mantra, an ancient Vedic practice for cultivating inner peace.
Find a comfortable place to sit.
Allow your spine to lengthen naturally.
Begin by noticing the rhythm of your breath.
We’ll use the mantra Om Shanti Om.
Om is the primordial sound—the vibration of the universe itself.
Shanti means peace in Sanskrit.
Begin by repeating the mantra:
Three times out loud
Three times in a whisper
Then silently to yourself, letting the sound dissolve into feeling
As you sit with the mantra, imagine peace moving outward—from your own heart to all beings, human and non-human, and into the wider world. Remain here for 10–15 minutes, or for however long feels supportive today.
Let This Be Enough
With mindfulness and a simple daily meditation practice, the holidays don’t have to feel overwhelming or draining. They can become an opportunity to cultivate calm, connection, and presence—where the joy and magic of the season are not rushed past, but truly felt.
And if mantra meditation doesn’t feel accessible on a given day, that’s okay. One conscious breath, a quiet walk, or a moment of stillness can be just as meaningful. Calm doesn’t require perfection—only presence.
A Closing Reflection
This season doesn’t ask us to do more.
It invites us to soften, to listen, and to remember what steadies us when life feels full.
If you find yourself overwhelmed, let this be your permission to pause.
To place a hand on your heart.
To breathe.
To come home to yourself—again and again.
May this holiday season meet you with moments of ease, clarity, and peace.
Much love,
Lindsay