As challenging as it is to stay true to yourself and speak and act accordingly in this world, it’s far easier than not to. The hardest part will be to remember who you are. The rest you already know how to do, because you are already you.

For those who are natural givers, the holiday season can be both a source of excitement and exhaustion. Here are 10 essential strategies to keep you balanced and grounded while you tackle your holiday duties.

When we meet someone who is very different from us, we can be quick to dismiss them because how they think and believe doesn't make sense to us. Sometimes, the differences are so fundamental that there can be no reconciliation or compromise.

Is it still possible to love those people?

Whether physically, psychologically, or energetically, everything in our life takes up space. Even the symbology of holding onto something that no longer has use or meaning in our life makes an imprint in the subconscious.

Sensitivity is an abstract quality. Unlike physical strength and productivity, sensitivity isn’t really quantifiable, at least, not in a structured way. But sensitivity is a much-needed quality, one that is scarce in our society today.

I’ve come across that response countless times before, either by words or facial expressions. Even when people don’t say it verbally, they communicate their cynicism with their eyes. Why is it so hard to believe in the genuine goodness in people? Are we too cynical as a society?

What I’ve discovered is that most people in any given community are there for the same reasons I am, to feel a sense of belonging. They’re hoping to find genuine connections, to share knowledge and interests, and create lasting friendships.

Releasing each piece of your truth is like dropping a brick you’ve been carrying in your chest. Except you didn’t know you were carrying it until it was dropped and you all of a sudden felt lighter in the heart.

The International Labor Organization released a report that found working long hours, defined as more than 55 hours a week, was responsible for 745,000 deaths from stroke and heart disease in 2016 — a 29% increase since 2000.

Lao Tzu has famously said: “If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.” The worry and nervousness of anxiety is that of the future, or of events that haven't happened yet but we speculate could happen.

It can be a mind-blowing concept that simply breathing effectively can improve our overall health and longevity, with a good chance of preventing a large number of illnesses. Though, is it truly that mind-blowing when you think about it?

The outcomes of self-destructive thinking and self-destructive action are myriad and impossible to fully predict. However, what we do have control over is how we choose to view ourselves, having survived the ordeal.

There are many self-improvement books and lectures that talk about the Ego being the voice of fear and limitation. What they don’t typically talk about is that the Ego is also our self-identity, our sense of self-worth, and who we are as an individual.

Our logic isn’t always reliable when faced with a decision that can affect our not-so-tangible faculties like our emotions, self-esteem or general well-being. Our mind could snap into survival mode to try and protect us from hurt and harm.

In the intervening two-plus decades, I have experienced countless emotions, thoughts, reflections, regrets and losses, as well as victories, successes, lessons and blessings.

Emotional abandonment is leaving our emotional needs unattended, often without acknowledging or addressing it with a response. That can leave us feeling confused, unsettled and unloved for a long time.

That was when I came across the powerful idea of choosing happiness, as a decision. I realized then happiness is a commitment — it is a practice I would have to adhere to in order for it to last and expand.

Just remember, when we talk about mind-body, that the mind actually represses things but our body never forgets. I have worked with many women who have been physically abused and all of them have very similar postural positions.

Somehow, my traumatic past made me feel special in a way. I had been telling those stories for so long that without them, I feared, I would just be ordinary.

If everything in life seems to work against you, or you are experiencing a difficult loss in your life and nothing is going right at the moment, taking a big breath and a big step back to regain your stability might be just what you need.