The holiday season brings us a lot of joyous moments, but it is also a time that creates many triggering moments and fills us with anxiety. In this pandemic-ridden world we live in today, and these holiday triggers are at an all-time high.

To say that our current reality is brutal to navigate is an understatement. We were all thrown into the sea of a Global Pandemic, with no warning, no life-vest, no instructions, and many uncertainties.

And now we are here, two years later, still trying to find our bearings and trying to claim some level of normality and find our ground. But how do we ground ourselves in a world that is constantly shifting, where fear has become the normalized emotion and where celebrating with our loved ones is considered deadly.

Putting pandemic fears and holiday triggers together could be a perfect recipe for disaster. But it doesn't have to be. Below are three of the top triggers and tools that will help you ease through the holiday season and allow you to take your foot off the fear pedal.

1. Family Gathering

If the thought of having to be around difficult, toxic, or drama-driven family members fills you with anxiety, you are not alone. Family dynamics come in all shapes and forms. Depending on how deep the subconscious generational programming runs in your family, some members may not even be aware of how they can trigger you.

In this situation, you are not powerless. Below are two easy steps you can implement right away:

Release Expectations

Whether you're expecting your family members to bring on the drama or expecting them to have changed, expectations always lead to disappointment. Instead, replace expectations with acceptance, and how would you show up differently from a space of acceptance.

Be Selective

You do not have to attend every gathering. Remember that you are always at choice. Before saying yes, ask yourself: I'm saying yes from a place of "I have to," or is this a whole body yes because "I want to."

2. Crowded Spaces

You Don't Have To Do Them.

Nothing screams anxiety more than a crowded venue during COVID times. If overcrowded spaces are not your jam, guess what you do not have to visit them. And if you must, you can choose the less crowded times, or if it's shopping, I invite you to join me in sharing the convenience of online shopping.

3. Money, Money, Money

You are Free to Break Away from the Norm

So many of us feel a very palpable financial pressure during the holidays. We live in a culture that pressures us to consume. The holidays are not about consuming or getting into debt so that you can give a trendy gift. The holiday season is a perfect time to share from your heart and be present with your loved ones. Money is energy, and you must pay attention to where you are investing this energetic asset. Investing money in things that will make you feel regret is not a good investment.

And the last and most important one, please fill your cup. Take care of yourself, engage in self-care practices that feed your soul, and make you feel connected. This season is just that; a season, and it will pass, but your relationship with yourself is forever. Cherish you, celebrate you, and take heart-centered action from a place that is your truth.

Rooting for you Awakening, AM