Greetings Reader -

I'm doing something a little different for me this holiday season: I'm hibernating.

Or at least relatively hibernating. For me, that means sleeping late and working at half-speed instead of my usual get-up-and-get-it-done-yesterday mode of moving through life.

I love what I do so "working" doesn't really feel like work. And everything I do is more or less self-directed so, other than having a responsibility to be a contributing member of my household, the amount of effort I put in is up to me.

Which makes it sound as if I have a lot of choice in the matter, but that's not as true as it seems. The truth is that we are all compelled to act according to our natures:

Which means that a worker bee's gonna work 'cause that's the nature of a worker bee. But sometimes, worker bee needs to down-shift a bit in order not to burn out, so I have to know the difference between "repression" and "attenuation" when it comes to moderating natural tendencies that might, if allowed to spin out of control, be detrimental to living a balanced life.

It also means that I have to know which of my natural tendencies I should try to leverage or amplify as I consider what new and improved version of myself I want to create for the new year.

So, in addition to just getting more rest than I usually allow myself, I'm using my holiday season hibernation as an opportunity to reflect on which of my natural tendencies I should try to attenuate and which ones I should try to accentuate as I recalibrate for the year ahead.

Opportunities for reflection and recalibration provide us with an opportunity to think about what our priorities really are, how to align our actions with our values, and what qualities we want to cultivate within the framework of our natural tendencies in order to bring balance, joy, and purpose into our lives.

In keeping with the spirit of svādhyāya, guided self-inquiry, I find it helpful to seek guidance from yoga wisdom texts for such introspective exercises. So I looked to the first three verses of the 16th chapter of the Bhagavad-gita, where Krishna offers a list of twenty four saintly qualities we can try to cultivate in order to amplify our best tendencies, minimize those that we're not so psyched about, increase our spiritual awareness, and lift our relationships to a higher spiritual level.

Here are a few of the qualities from these verses, along with some thoughts about how we can apply them in a practical way during this holiday season:

• Fearlessness (abhayaṁ)​
  Fearlessness invites us to approach family dynamics, personal goals, and new opportunities with courage and authenticity. Envisioning the best-case scenario under the circumstances—being both optimistic and realistic—and moving in the direction of that vision one step at a time is a great way to cultivate fearlessness.
• Persistence in Pursuit of Spiritual Knowledge (jñāna-yoga-vyavasthitiḥ)​
  This season is a natural time to look for the ways in which divinity is present—in the world and in our own hearts—and to contemplate the spiritual context within which the world unfolds. Authentic sources of spiritual knowledge act as gateways to authentic spiritual experiences, so, for the next few weeks, try making a commitment to hear from a source of spiritual wisdom every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes, and think about what that wisdom reveals to you about the world and how you can apply it in your life.
• Generosity (dānaṁ)​
  While exchanging gifts is a part of the season, generosity also includes giving your time, attention, and love to those who need it most. In addition to offering your time and energy in service to a cause you believe in or giving a charitable gift, see if there’s someone in your life who you can spend some time with, check in on, or offer your support to.
• Self-Control (damaś)​
  The holidays often tempt us toward excess. Moderation doesn’t have to mean deprivation: it’s just the discipline to find balance—enjoying the sweets, the celebrations, and the indulgences without letting them take over. Self-control can be a source of great power, and cultivating it during the holidays can help you build a habit of self-discipline that can serve you well throughout the coming year.
• Sincerity (ārjavam)​
  In a season that can sometimes feel performative, sincerity is a breath of fresh air. Be genuine in your actions and words, and you’ll foster more meaningful relationships that will truly satisfy your heart.

These qualities may not be natural tendencies in and of themselves, but they can be applied to strengthen whatever propensities we want to amplify or undercut any susceptibilities we know we'd be better off without.

Do you see any ways that you might like to weave these qualities into your recalibration ruminations or integrate them into your holiday season plans? Write back and let me know.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season,

- Hari-k

P.S.: A preview of what’s ahead: I'm offering one-on-one spiritual mentorships and small group mentorships for yoga teachers in 2025. Here's a little info about both offerings:

Individual spiritual mentorships are customized journeys through the space where philosophy, spirituality, and personal development converge. If you want to explore how the process of devotional yoga can help you discover, deepen, construct, or reconstruct your relationship with divinity and fire up your spiritual practice, my personalized mentorship program might be just what you're looking for. To learn more about one-on-one spiritual mentorships, CLICK HERE.

Small group mentorships are for yoga teachers who want to expand the range of their practice, integrate their practice into their lives on a deeper, more meaningful level, and gain confidence in their ability to share yoga’s spiritual and philosophical wisdom. Each cohort’s specific content and structure is customized according to the needs and priorities of the group. The first cohort of 2025 will start on February 15th. To learn more about small group mentorships for yoga teachers, CLICK HERE.