No matter what holiday you celebrate this season, this time of year sparks excitement from young to old with the promise of joy, tasty food, generosity, quality time with loved ones, meaningful conversations, and laughter. But sometimes the most wonderful time of the year may not feel so wonderful after all.

Too often we get swept away in the frantic chaos of gift shopping, awkward family gatherings and office parties, or the pressure of cooking dinner for (or simply being around) a large group of people at once. We end up spending our holidays doing things that don’t bring us true happiness, resulting in loneliness, frustration, and sadness during what is supposed to be the happiest time of the year.

But what if our happiness, connectedness, and wholeheartedness could increase this holiday season based on a simple formula? What if the typical holiday frustrations just didn’t exist?

The secret formula lies in living in spiritual-material balance and abundance:

Something Spiritual + Something Material = A Harmonious Holiday

It took me over a decade to discover how we can use this balance in our day-to-day lives, and have found that most of us are living in spiritual material conflict. So how can you find balance and transform it into a holiday of spiritual-material abundance? And more importantly, how can you use this information to have a holiday season you enjoy?

Traditional holiday dishes have the power to evoke memories and bring people together. It can also be a cultural adventure. To use food as a holiday pick-me-up, try this formula:

Celebrating Tradition + Holiday Food = Nourishment, Enjoyment, Festivity

Here are some ideas to help you create meaningful experiences around the dinner table that will nourish both your body and soul, providing truly satisfying fulfillment:

  • Childhood memories: Prepare favorite holiday dishes and have each guest share a special childhood holiday memory.
  • Host a potluck: Ask each guest to prepare a favorite holiday dish and share a memory related to this dish.
  • Introduce new traditions: Learn about traditional dishes from other parts of the country or other cultures, and add one of them to your menu to expand the experience of your palette and heart.
  • Open your heart and house: In the spirit of sharing, open your heart and home to friends and acquaintances from other traditions, or to someone who is alone this holiday.

You can find inner fulfillment without having to give up life’s material comforts. Using this Spiritual-Material Formula, you can invest greater meaning, connection, and happiness into the traditional activities of the holidays.

Play with it and have fun!

Come up with your own creative ways to imbue this season with your unique spirit. However you choose to celebrate, may you find joy, fulfillment, and lasting peace.

Blessings for a fulfilling and gratifying holiday,

Anna

P.S. Here’s a link to my TEDx talk where I give examples of how to balance spiritual fulfillment with material enjoyment: You Can Eat Your Cake and have Enlightenment Too.