Finding Stillness: A Guided Holiday Meditation with Dr. Michael Gervais

Dr. Michael Gervais (0:00)

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I love when I find a great gift for somebody. And something I'm really excited to share with you during the season of giving is Mack Weldon. I'm a huge fan. I'm a huge fan of what they're doing. And for those of you who have been listening for a while to the podcast, you know that we don't partner with clothing companies often. That's because I'm really picky. And Mack Weldon, they have this clean, classic approach that's great for men who value comfort and quality over, you know, the flash bang that comes with fast fashion. Mack Weldon makes it easy to find timeless pieces that look and feel great, which also makes their products ideal for holiday gifting. And a couple of my favorites, their Tech Linen Half Zip. It's comfortable, it's breathable, it's refined, it layers really well. And then they've got this warm knit air shirt jacket that I love. It's lightweight, it's also warm. I'm wearing one of their cashmere sweaters right now. I just, I gotta tell you, I love what they're doing. They've got the essentials dialed in. And for any man who would like, you know, a thoughtful gift, I think that this is one you want to consider. And what I really appreciate, though, about Mack Weldon is that they stand for something deeper. They believe that knowing is more important than showing. And that aligns so well with what we talk about here at Finding Mastery. Substance over image, working from the inside out. So if you're looking for some quality gifts for the men on your list, I really, really want to encourage you to go check them out. Right now, new customers get 20% off orders over $100 with the code findingmastery at Mack Weldon. So you spell that Mack Weldon, mackweldon.com, and then use the code findingmastery. Okay, welcome back or welcome to the Finding Mastery Podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Michael Gervais, by trade and training a high-performance psychologist. I just want to start by saying happy holidays. And I want to take this moment to reflect on something I think many of us are experiencing this time of the year. There's a joy, there's a connection. And if we're being honest, the holidays can be a time for big emotions. They have this incredible way of amplifying everything. And the fun feels a little extra fun, and the challenging moments, well, they can feel extra challenging too. So from navigating travel to managing family dynamics, or even just trying to stay present with the thousands of other things that are pulling your attention, it's not always easy to find your footing. So today we're going to do something different. We want to offer you something to help you radically flourish during the holiday season, during the season of big emotions, whatever those emotions might be for you. This mindfulness that I'm going to guide you through is about 14 minutes long. Just enough time to hit pause, to reconnect with yourself and to set the stage for a holiday season that feels a little more intentional. So find a quiet spot and settle in. Here's the navigating the holidays with presence and purpose. To get started, just settle in wherever you are. It sounds so simple, yet it actually can take some time to do. It takes patience to really settle in, to relax. Now you already know how to relax. You've done it thousands of times in your life. So as you begin, just take a moment first to decide if you want to keep your eyes open or closed. If closed, go ahead and close them now. And if open, allow them to gently rest, letting your vision soften, maybe even becoming blurry, with your eyes becoming heavy, more relaxed. Either way, it's your choice, your way of starting to become more relaxed, more present. As you're settling in, all the thoughts and worries of today are not important. When your mind begins to wander, that's normal. Just say hello and goodbye to your thoughts and return back to the task at hand. The task right now is to simply settle in to the space you're in, the body you're in. Allowing yourself to trust the surface that you're on. If you're laying on the floor, just trust the floor. If you're laying in bed or sitting in a chair or standing, just trust the surface under you, allowing your body to rest. Paying attention to the actual sensations of the contact you're making. Now, just adjust your body to find a position that is stable, just poised, where you're balanced over your body. Beautiful. Notice that you're starting to enter a new way of engaging with this moment. Just a bit more focused, more relaxed. Gently bring awareness to your breathing. Just notice it. Notice the actual physical sensations of your inhale. Notice the difference between your inhale and your exhale.