The word "holiday" is derived from holy day - a day of solemn religious observance. Over the millennia, its true meaning has become grossly distorted. Today the word is synonymous with shopping frenzies, insincere displays of emotion, and, in many instances, obligatory and uncomfortable social gatherings. There is an underlying pressure to conform that can be psychologically detrimental if we fall prey to it. Instead of feeling uplifted and joyful, many people feel anxious and depressed.

There is a mass hypnosis at play, driven largely by commercialism and advertising media, dictating what we should do and how we should feel. Forced happiness seems mandatory. We are told that having the latest flat screen HDTV will give us the fulfillment we've been seeking, when in fact the shopping mania is actually making us numb. Now granted, there's nothing wrong with desiring something new, but it's gotten way out of control. We've become alienated from our feelings and tend to operate like mindless robots. When we do not acknowledge what we really feel, we lose connection to our spirit and sense of self-fulfillment. Real joy comes from the freedom to express ourselves authentically, and that cannot be purchased at any store or on any website.

By remembering that we are entitled to our own individual feelings, whatever they are, we access the gateway to our spirit and inner truth. When we follow that guidance, we experience deep healing and make wise choices about where to focus our energy and spend our time. In that way, we cannot be manipulated to live our lives according to other people's agendas, whether they be friends, lovers, family members, coworkers, or the retail industry.

Through practicing this kind of self-care, we realize the true meaning of holiday as a time to honor who we are as divine spiritual beings.

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