Tomorrow heralds the start of advent and the beginning of the Christmas period. This year we have created as a special gift for you, our ‘Wellbeing Advent Calendar’. Each day offers a unique, engaging way to boost hope, peace, joy and love, helping you cultivate a healthier and more resilient mindset throughout the festive season.
Dive in daily to discover simple yet impactful practices that can transform your holiday experience and beyond.
First a word about Advent:
Advent, derived from the Latin word "adventus" meaning "coming" or "arrival," is a season observed in many Christian traditions as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Christmas. Traditionally, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continues until Christmas Eve. This period of approximately four weeks has a rich history and offers a unique opportunity to enhance our wellbeing through daily acts of kindness, reflection, and self-care.
The History of Advent
The origins of Advent can be traced back to the early Christian church. Initially, it was a period of fasting and penitence, similar to Lent, observed to prepare the faithful for the feast of the Nativity. By the 6th century, Advent had become a distinct liturgical season, marked by a sense of joyful anticipation rather than solemn penance. The length and practices of Advent varied across different regions and denominations, but the core purpose remained the same, to ready oneself spiritually for the celebration of Christmas.
In Western Christianity, the Advent wreath, a circular garland of evergreen branches with four candles, has become a popular symbol of this season. Each candle represents one of the four weeks of Advent, and traditionally, three candles are purple, symbolizing penance and preparation, and one is pink, symbolizing joy. Lighting a new candle each week serves as a reminder of the light of Christ coming into the world.
Advent and Wellbeing
In contemporary times, the spirit of Advent can be harnessed to promote wellbeing in ourselves and others. By shifting the focus from material gifts to meaningful actions, we can transform this season into a time of personal growth, connection, and generosity. Here are examples of daily practices that align with the themes of Advent and foster a sense of wellbeing.
Week 1: Hope
When we say hope in our head we often have the narrative that it might not happen, so in fact, hope can unfortunately be linked with doubt. So when we say “I hope” – we screw our faces up, we shrug our shoulders, and we think about both the positive and negative outcomes. Our propensity to negative thinking then encourages us to focus on the negative and we say “what if I fail?”.
Intentions on the other hand are innately positive. They state what we are going to do and if they are clear there is no flip side. We set ourselves a challenge and we focus on the doing rather than the outcome. With this in mind, take a look at the activities for this week which encompass both intention and the positive aspects of hope.
Day 1: Reflect
Begin the Advent season by taking time to reflect on the past year. What did you achieve, what have you learned and where do you see yourself going? What are your goals in the short term for the festive season and in the longer term for the new year ahead?
Write them down to clarify your goals and set a positive tone for the weeks ahead.
This exercise will help you do the deep, inner work that allows you to get the most out of your human experience.
Day 2: Set clear Intentions
Take some time to reflect on your goals and using positive, clear, emotive, certain language write them down.
For example:
I will enjoy every moment as Christmas approaches
I will be grateful for the opportunity to connect with the people around me
I will take every opportunity of discomfort to learn about myself
Day 3: Create a plan of action
Write down a list of actions or activities that align with your intentions.
Make them achievable.
Make sure they come from you and have not been foisted on you by the over-culture. When we use the words “should”, “must” and “ought” we are responding to aspects of our conditioning imposed on us during our childhood or by the external environment. When we do this, we are wise if we ask “according to whom?” This gives the opportunity to see where these limiting beliefs come from and challenge them.
When you choose your activities consider ones that are
· Easy
· Fun
· Things you enjoy
· Purposeful
· Adaptable
Day 4: Plant a Seed
Planting seeds symbolizes hope as it represents the potential for growth and new beginnings. Watching seeds transform into plants boosts well-being by fostering a sense of accomplishment, connection to nature, and patience. This process reinforces optimism and resilience, highlighting the rewards of nurturing and care in both gardening and life.
This also applies to the concept of planting an idea or contributing to a growing project.
You could plant seeds and give them as gifts of hope to others for Christmas.
Day 5: Learn something New
Learning something new builds hope by opening up possibilities and enhancing personal growth. This process stimulates the brain, fosters a sense of achievement, and increases self-confidence. The positive impact on well-being includes reduced stress, increased resilience, and a more optimistic outlook on life, promoting overall mental and emotional health.
Consider using your new hobby to create gifts for Christmas. There is something innately special about handmade gifts.
Day 6: The gift of giving
Studies show that acts of kindness stimulate the brain's reward centres, releasing endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin—the "feel-good" hormones.
Take the time today to gift someone. Consider giving the following:
· Your time
· A listening ear
· A hug
· A gift
· Encouragement
· A Compliment
· Praise
· A joke
· A song
· A poem
Day 7: Evaluate your Practice
For the last day of this week of hope, take a moment to go over the week and reflect on the activities and the experience you had.
Find a place where you can sit calmly
With your spine straight
Take your awareness to your breathing
Allow your breath to slow and deepen
Now allow the outbreath to become
A little longer than the inbreath
And as you breathe
Slowly and deeply
Let the outbreath be a way of letting go
Let go of anything that has felt draining
Or depleting
Let go of those situations from which you have learned
Everything you needed to learn
Let go of anything that no longer serves you
And breathe in the nurturing light of positivity
And healing
Now as you rest
Cast your mind back to the positive activities
You have undertaken this week
Let them gently come up for you
Effortlessly playing out
One by one
Check in with your thoughts
Both now and at the time of the experience
What stories have you told yourself this week?
What are you telling yourself now?
Have you sought to engage with positivity?
Have you planted seeds?
Have you engaged in anything new?
How has this played out for you?
What were some of the results of your actions?
For both you
And others?
How did you feel about them at the time?
Allow all of your emotions to come up now
Feeling them fully within your body
And offering up deep gratitude for the message
What have you learned from this practice?
And what might you weave into your daily life as a result?
And as you breathe deeply
Offer yourself a message of appreciation
For the practice
The process
And your openness to change and growth
And know that just like the stars
And the ocean
You are a unique
And beautiful
Expression of the Universe
And a creation of pure
Divine
Light
Join us next week for the next instalment.
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