Better Together: Mindfulness Practices for the Holidays

The holiday season, a time meant for joy and connection, can feel particularly heavy and divisive this year. Many of us are carrying the weight of political and social tensions into our gatherings, feeling a sense of dread about potential conflicts or the strain of unspoken differences.

What if you could approach these events not with anxiety, but with a grounded sense of compassion and resilience?

In this one-hour experiential workshop, Rev. Jessica Sharp will create a supportive container to explore how we can bring more harmony to our holidays. We will draw from timeless mindfulness practices that are profoundly practical for our modern challenges.

This is not about avoiding difficult feelings or conversations, but about building the inner capacity to meet them with mindfulness and an open heart.

During our time together, you will:

• Learn Four Key Practices: We will explore the purpose and application of Mindful Breathing (for grounding), Tonglen (for transforming heaviness into compassion), Metta Loving-Kindness (for cultivating unconditional grace), and Ho’oponopono (a Hawaiian practice for reconciliation and forgiveness).
• Discover Practical Application: We will discuss when and how to use these tools—in the quiet moments before you walk in the door, in the midst of a tense conversation, and in the quiet reflection afterwards to release any residue.
• Build Your "Compassion Muscle": This is a participatory workshop. We will not just discuss these practices; we will experience them together in a gentle, guided format. This shared practice helps ensure these tools are accessible and ready when you need them most.

Join us for this nourishing hour to equip yourself with practical skills to stay mindful, open, and in harmonious relationship with yourself and your loved ones this holiday season. Come exactly as you are, and leave with a toolkit for peace.