Wholeness Healing Center

Glimmers of Light – Nurturing Joy During the Holidays

As the year winds down and the days grow shorter, many of us feel the weight of the season. The holidays can be joyful, but they can also be challenging, evoking feelings of loneliness, grief, or a sense of being overwhelmed. Add in the literal darkness of winter, and it is no wonder our spirits sometimes dip.

Across cultures and traditions, this season has always been marked by light. Candles on the table, twinkling lights on trees, menorahs, luminaries, and lanterns remind us that even in the darkest months, light still shines. This symbolism offers us more than tradition; it provides us with a practice for mental health.

When the world feels heavy, creating or noticing small “lights” can steady us. That light may be physical, such as spending time near a sunny window, stepping outside for fresh air, or brightening your environment with warm light in your home. It may be a ritual, such as lighting a candle in honor of a loved one, pausing to give thanks before a meal, or offering a short prayer or affirmation. Rituals have a way of anchoring us when days feel scattered. It may be inner light, such as pausing to savor a small joy like a shared laugh, a hot cup of tea, or a simple act of kindness. Neuroscience shows that when we hold these positive moments in awareness for ten to twenty seconds, our brains literally begin to change.

Psychologist Rick Hanson explains that while our brains are wired with a “negativity bias,” holding on to the bad more readily than the good, we can actively rewire them by focusing on what is positive. Taking just twenty seconds to truly absorb a good moment allows neurons to fire and wire together, building stronger pathways for gratitude, calm, and resilience. In other words, the more we consciously focus on the light, the more light our brains will naturally notice.

The holiday season does not demand perfection. It invites us to notice the flickers of light that appear in small, ordinary moments: a connection with a friend, the beauty of frost on a window, or the laughter that rises even after a hard day. These are the lights that guide us through dark seasons, reminding us that even in the midst of difficulty, there is hope.

As we enter this season of light, may we give ourselves permission to slow down, to notice, and to let those small glimmers of light settle deeply within us, changing not only our perspective in the moment but also strengthening our capacity for joy in the future. For me, that might look like decorating with twinkle lights, small glimmers that spark a festive, magical feeling. I will let myself dwell in their glow, allowing the warmth to settle into my body and rewire my brain for resilience and hope. Perhaps you might pause to notice one small light in your own life this week, whether it is a smile, a kind word, the glow of a candle, or a joyful moment. Take twenty seconds to breathe it in and let it settle and notice how it shifts your sense of the season. In noticing and savoring these small lights, we remember that even when life feels dark, light is abundant, even in simple ways. And when we practice noticing these small lights, we give ourselves countless opportunities to strengthen hope, nurture joy, and use light as a tool for mental health. May you find your light and let it warm you into the new year.

 

Tags: grounding in the holidays by noticing lights