Wire Your Brain for Holiday Happiness

Did you know that neurons that fire together, wire together? This is Hebb’s Law, a principle in neuroscience that explains how repetition wires thoughts, emotions, and actions deeper into our brains. The great news is that you can use this to your advantage to rewire your brain for calm and resilience—just in time for the holidays.

Emily’s Story: Finding Calm Amid Holiday Chaos

Last December, Emily felt the familiar overwhelm creeping in as she tried to juggle work deadlines, gift shopping, and hosting family. By the time the holiday dinner arrived, she was already in a spiral of stress. She couldn’t fully enjoy the season, and even small moments felt overwhelming.

This year, Emily decided to do things differently. She practiced bilateral stimulation during her busiest moments: gently tapping her legs alternately while focusing on calming thoughts. It took only a few minutes each day, but she noticed a big difference.

The tapping helped her calm her nervous system and stay present. Instead of spiraling, she felt steady. Over time, this practice rewired her brain to respond with calm instead of anxiety. For the first time, Emily felt centered throughout the holiday season.

What About You?

• How do you usually feel during the holidays—calm and connected, or overwhelmed and reactive?
• Are there moments when you wish you had a tool to help you stay grounded?

If so, here are three simple practices you can try this holiday season to help you manage stress and reconnect with yourself:

1. Bilateral Stimulation (BLS)

Feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Try tapping alternately on your legs or arms while focusing on a calming word or thought. This technique helps reset your nervous system and brings you back to the present moment.

2. Shaking It Off

After a stressful conversation or holiday task, stand up and shake your body gently—starting with your feet and moving upward. This releases tension and restores balance to your body.

3. Peripheral Vision Exercise

Pause and soften your focus. Look straight ahead while letting your awareness expand to what’s in your peripheral vision. This exercise helps shift you out of fight-or-flight mode and into a calm, grounded state.

 Why These Practices Work

Real change happens through action. These nervous system regulation techniques work because they engage your body, moving you out of overthinking and into a calmer state. Every time you practice, you’re rewiring your brain for peace and resilience—one moment at a time.

This holiday season, let’s prioritize not just getting through the chaos but creating moments of calm and connection that allow you to truly enjoy the season.

Warmly,
Jill

→ Next Step: Open your Feeling Better App and explore the Do-Torials that resonate with you. (Apple is good to go, Google is still in the development process. I appreciate your patience!)

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Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash