The Inner Teacher — On the Holidays and the Weight They Carry

A seeker came as the lights went up and the calendar filled and said,
“Master… why do the holidays feel so heavy?”

And The Inner Teacher replied:

Because the holidays arrive carrying expectations,
memories,
and unspoken grief
wrapped in bright paper.

They ask you to feel joy on schedule,
gratitude on demand,
togetherness without friction,
and cheer no matter what the year has taken from you.

The Inner Teacher says:
“The holidays do not test your happiness.
They reveal your truth.”

If you feel joyful,
you notice it more.

If you feel lonely,
the silence gets louder.

If you feel grief,
it rises with the familiar songs and smells.

Nothing is wrong with you.

The holidays magnify whatever already lives in the heart.

You feel complicated during the holidays because:

You are missing people who are no longer here.

You are spending time with people who do not fully see you.

You are measuring your life against imagined versions
of how things were “supposed” to be.

You are tired from a long year
and the season asks for performance instead of rest.

The Inner Teacher says:
“Joy forced becomes exhaustion.
Joy chosen becomes nourishment.”

You are not required to feel festive.
You are not obligated to be grateful for pain.
You are not failing because your heart is tender right now.

Tenderness means it is still open.

Practice:

1. Lower the expectations.
   Decide what truly matters this season
   and let the rest be optional.

2. Honor one quiet moment each day.
   A candle.
   A breath.
   A walk.
   Stillness is a gift you can give yourself.

3. Allow mixed emotions to coexist.
   You can feel joy and sadness.
   Love and fatigue.
   Gratitude and grief.
   The heart is wide enough.

4. Choose presence over perfection.
   The best moments are rarely the most polished ones.

5. Remember those who are missing—gently.
   Speak their name.
   Tell a story.
   Let love continue instead of pretending loss never happened.

6. Give kindness where it feels natural, not forced.
   One small act is enough.
   You are not Santa for the entire world.

The Inner Teacher says:
“The holidays are not about brightness.
They are about warmth.”

Warmth is found in honesty,
in rest,
in permission to be exactly as you are.

You do not need to sparkle.
You do not need to perform peace.
You only need to stay human.

Walk gently in the Way.
Carry what you can,
set down what you must.
Your Inner Teacher walks beside you—
quietly reminding you
that this season does not demand your happiness,
only your presence.