🦃 Giving from Overflow, Not Obligation

The holidays are a season of giving — but not all giving feels the same.

Some giving feels light, expansive, and joyful.  Other times, it feels heavy, draining and pressured.  Often that difference isn't about what we give — it's about where we give from.

The BodyMind approach reminds us that authentic giving begins with awareness:  What does my body feel when I say yes? What does it feel when I’m overextended?  The body never lies — it tells us when our “yes” is aligned and when it’s coming from guilt or exhaustion.

💛 A Story of Learning to Give Differently

Recently, I worked with a client who shared how overwhelmed she felt every Thanksgiving season.  She was saying yes to everything — organizing family gatherings, hosting meals, volunteering, and managing all the details.  By the time the holiday arrived, she was exhausted.

As she sat across from me, listing everything on her plate, I could feel how much love she poured into others — and how little space she'd left for herself.

So I asked her a simple question:

"What do you need most this season?"

 She paused...  She actually stopped — mid-sentence — to think.  After a few moments, she smiled softly and said,

"To give less and receive more".

That one moment of awareness shifted everything.

We explored what that could look like — saying no to the extra volunteer shifts, asking her family to each bring a dish, carving out quiet time for a walk before guests arrived.  Not from guilt, but from grace.

🌿 BodyMind Wisdom: Giving from Alingment

In the BodyMind Method, alignment begins with listening.  Your body always tells you the truth.  

When you say yes, notice how your body responds:

•   Do I feel light or heavy?
•   Open or tight?
•   Energized or drained?

Those sensations are signals.  They tell you whether your "yes" comes from overflow or obligation.

Giding from overflow means giving from presence — not pressure.  It's giving because you want to, not because you should.

✨ Reflection Prompts

This Thanksgiving, take a few moments to pause and reflect:

•   What would giving from overflow look like for me this year?
•   Where do I need to say no in order to say yes to myself?
•   What fills my cup before I pour into others?

🕯️ Gather, Glow, and Give Grace

As we move through this season of gratitude and giving, may we remember that generosity begins with presence.

That’s the heart behind the spaces I’m creating — gatherings where women can pause, reflect, and reconnect with their inner wisdom before extending their light outward.

Join me for Gather & Glow — A Winter Solstice Celebration on December 6 in Woodland Park, where we’ll come together to create, reflect, and celebrate connection among the trees.

And in January, I’ll be opening the Breakthrough BodyMind Community, a place to nurture that same energy of mindfulness, movement, and meaningful connection throughout the year.

“When we give from overflow, our light becomes contagious.”

🌸 Closing Thought

Giving isn’t about how much we do — it’s about how fully we show up.
When we honor our energy first, what we offer to others naturally becomes richer, more intentional, and filled with grace.

This Thanksgiving, may your giving be light, your heart full, and your presence your greatest gift.