291: Permission To Eat, Drink, And Be Merry

Let’s get really clear about something real quick…

You deserve to enjoy your holidays. 

You deserve to eat the cookies.

You deserve to drink the nog.

You deserve to live it up and laugh out loud and love lots in all the ways that fill your soul.

AND, you deserve to do all this guilt-free.

That said, I want you to be mindful and intentional about what truly brings you joy.

I want you to be aware of delightful indulgence vs mindless consumption. 

For me, delightful indulgence is:

• A piece of my Aunt Sara’s chocolate cake
• A glass of a full-bodied red
• Extra time spent with family and friends
• Crab dipped in melted butter at my Aunt Marybeth’s annual crab feed
• Wearing pajamas all day
• Watching Elf 87 times
• A cold, crisp run in the sun in my mom’s neighborhood
• Putting my phone down and being more present

For me, delightful indulgence is NOT:

• Going to bed so full my stomach hurts
• Being wide awake with insomnia because I had 3 glasses of wine after dinner
• Eating so many cookies I have a massive sugar rush and then crash an hour later
• Hungover parenting
• Skipping workouts
• Constant posting to FB/IG

Because I know what my delightful indulgences are, I am careful to prioritize those things.  In fact, I often pass up a lot of other things to make space for these delightful indulgences.  I’ll skip the nog in order to enjoy the red.  I’ll pass on the cookies to enjoy every bite of the cake.  I’ll switch to club soda after 2 glasses of wine so I will sleep well.  I’ll decide which days I’m wearing PJs all day, so I can also determine which days I’m getting up to go running. 

Determine your delightful indulgences.  Then make space for them.  Then, say NO to the things that are not as awesome as your delightful indulgences.  Don’t be in constant consumption mode.  Be in thoughtful consumption mode.  You will enjoy every bit of your holidays more. 

Tune into this episode to get specific pointers on how to be intentional around your delightful indulgences so you can spend your holidays in delighted JOY.

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