As another year draws to a close, we prepare ourselves for Christmas and New Year. It is a time of high excitement and sometimes overwhelm, as we try to be all things to all people.

In past years I have talked about gift-giving, charitable acts, advent celebrations and managing expectations. This December I would like to talk about heart-led celebrations: making space for pure joy amid the rush and bustle of a family Christmas.

So, what exactly is a heart-led celebration? It is one in which we slow down, embody our fullest emotions and aim to connect with those closest to us in new and deeper ways.

Make space for quiet reflection

Amid the shopping lists, end of term activities, plans to visit family afar, gift buying and wrapping, then parties and over-indulgence, I invite you to make space for quiet reflection and deep feeling.

This might mean thinking of those we have lost: old friends, deceased loved ones or simply remembering times gone by. If you have moved recently, it could be a time for remembering old neighbours, friends from school or colleagues with whom you may have lost touch.

Heart-led celebrations focus on how we truly feel, be it happy or sad, upbeat or melancholy, and they give us permission to look inside and accept our own truth.

Our children watch us as their adults and learn to hide their feelings, often buying into the ‘I must enjoy Christmas’ message, when they are in fact missing grandma, still grieving a pet, or really missing their best friend from their old school.

I invite you to take time and make space with comfy cushions and blankets, warm drinks and a soothing soundtrack so you can sit together and talk about how you feel in your heart.

Making memories just as powerfully as the latest gadget could

Having a good cry together, which can turn into cuddles and eventually giggles of together-ness, is priceless and will help you to make memories just as powerfully as the latest gadget or fancy party ever could!

Remember, this is a space of total acceptance and non-judgement; no wish or fear is ‘silly’ and no feelings are ‘not allowed’. This is for everyone; all genders and ages.

Perhaps grandma wants to talk about her childhood friend, or dad would really like to remember his dog from years ago. Toddlers might be sad about a toy they broke or get upset about something they’ve seen out and about recently which has worried them – our young ones see and hear so much more than we realise.

Come together and share what really matters to you

Think of your own heart-led celebration as a space to come together to find joy in all the people, places and adventures of the past, to invite them into the present through storytelling, looking at old photos and sharing what really matters to you!

I promise that you will soon be making this an annual ritual you look forward to every year, and I hope it will become a treasured part of your family festive traditions.