Are you already worrying about how you’re going to get through the Festive season? Every year we tell ourselves that we’re going to be organised this time, we’re not going to get stressed, it’s all going to be fine… and yet I’m not sure there are many people (women) out there who, come December, don’t find themselves worn out, anxious, and in need of a detox.
The Impact of Stress:
The holiday season can be an intensely stressful time: you might be worrying about buying the right gifts or spending time with challenging relatives, and this is all on top of balancing never ending parties on top of our regular responsibilities. 2023 has been massively overwhelming and potentially triggering for many of us.
Finding Time for Yourself:
So, it’s no wonder many of us struggle to truly relax and unwind during what is meant to be a ‘holiday’ season and end up seeing in the New Year feeling exhausted and in need of a proper break.
Finding, or making, time for yourself is vital during the festive season. Research shows that chronic stress doesn’t just negatively affect us in the short term, if can take a major toll on our mental and physical wellbeing over time as well, if we don’t learn how to manage it.
The Power of Ceremonial Cacao:
If all that’s making you feel more stressed than you were before, then don’t worry. I’ve got you. Something that’s really helped me over the years is ceremonial cacao.
Now, if you’re about to tell me that you could just as easily go and buy a hot chocolate from Costa, let me tell you a little more about how cacao can offer you just the kind of comforting respite we all need during the holidays.
The Blissful Benefits of Cacao Ceremonies:
Firstly, cacao ceremonies provide us a dedicated time to relax and savour the cacao’s natural bliss and tranquility-promoting compounds.
By bringing our full focus to preparing and mindfully drinking the traditionally brewed, ceremonial cacao, we give ourselves permission to slow down. our nervous systems get the chance to calm down, down to cacao’s unique blend of “feel good” chemicals.
Unlike standard chocolate, or even coffee, ceremonial cacao carries a soothing energy, leading many to report lasting feelings of warmth, pleasure and reduced worry even after the ceremony concludes. By creating a cosy pocket of calm when you’re feeling overwhelmed, a warm mug of cacao can act as the perfect restorative to help you glide through the season’s peak moments calmer, lighter, and more at ease.
Preparing your Cacao:
I’ve been through a period of high stress recently, and cacao has really been helping me. If it’s something you’ve been thinking about trying but you’re not sure where to start, take a look at my video below, where I show you the best way to prepare your cacao!
It’s something that can really help you if you’re feeling overwhelmed, but don’t forget that cacao is something you can share with others. By gathering friends or loved ones for a cacao ceremony, the experience fosters deeper social bonding through the sharing of vulnerability and intuition-boosting demonstration. You just may find that the cacao’s soothing properties enrich your connections to others as well—the perfect recipe for the holiday season.
Cacao as a Gift
If you want to try my ceremonial cacao for yourself, it’s available to buy on my website but don’t forget it can also make a wonderful, unique gift for friends and family!
