I am not sure about you, but I have to keep a reign on myself this time of year.  I want to send the cards, make 3 types of cookies and candy, add that one more person to my list to gift.  None of that is bad, it’s just that I can’t do as much as I want without it feeling like the doing has become not fun.

So the gifts I am giving myself with the busyness of this time of year include:

* Allowing myself to reconsider.  I  had planned on making 3 different kinds of cookies to eat and give as gifts.  I decided to make my favorite for sure and if I want to bake more this weekend, I will.  What I have to give is enough.

*Keep up with my 15 min to 1 hour every day to listen to my meditations and keep up with my Hakomi training
(a great mindfulness and somatic process that helps people stay grounded in their experiences vs distracting themselves).

​*Not booking early afternoon appts when I sense fatigue coming on a couple of days before; recharge and go at it again 😉

*Taking my vitamins/herbs and keeping them stocked up

*Extra cooking ahead for easy dinners at night

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So think about what you want to feel right now: more peace, more certainty, more whatever…

And how can you set yourself up for that gift?  Do you need to set aside time to ground before that holiday party (you can do that in your car or even in the bathroom)?  Do you need to bring food that you are comfortable with and just take little risks?  Do you need to say no when that’s what you really want to do?

Sometimes tending to yourself feels “not okay” but that is the new-ness of it or the fear of getting hurt because of it, not that inherently it’s bad.  Practice giving to yourself in whatever dose you can tolerate.

If you are dreading going into holiday parties/get-togethers or meals and don’t have a plan to feel more in charge, then consider my Help for Hoiday Eating Course.  With 45 min of audio and 9 self care worksheets, give yourself the gift of guidance during this time that can be challenging.

Finally, for a bit more support with your Intuitive Eating journey, I was honored to get to talk with Guy Macpherson, trauma therapist,  on his podcast.  We talk Intuitive Eating and the process of making it feel more safe.  Find the podcast here.

Here’s to gifting yourself to be fully here, right now.
Tracy

PS:
Here is my favorite cookie recipe if you are interested!

Heath Cookies

1/2 cup butter
1 c packed brown sugar
1/2c granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cup flour
package of Heath or Scor bits; heath have chocolate and toffee

Preheat oven to 375
 
Soften the butter at room temperature before creaming it with the sugars with your mixer.
Add the eggs and vanilla.
In a separate bowl mix dry ingredients except heath bits
Add the flour 1/2c at a time to mix easier
Turn down the speed on your mixer to add in heath bits to incorporate

Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes

Enjoy!