Celebrating, Enjoying While Others Cannot

Many of us are taking the opportunity of the festive season to come together, travel, and celebrate. Yet, for many others, even if they wish to do the same, they cannot — often through no fault of their own.

Earlier this year, I faced a similar moral dilemma during Eid. A friend, whose family was enduring unimaginable oppression in their homeland, offered a powerful perspective: “We should celebrate mindfully and continue to be a voice for those suffering. This is the best way to show oppressors they cannot break the will of the people.”

At a practical level, being mindful of others’ suffering while enjoying our own lives means making conscious choices: avoiding waste, limiting over-indulgence, and practicing kindness in a way that aligns with our pure selves rather than our base desires.

This can feel like a difficult balance, especially if your 2024 was filled with trials — job losses, losing loved ones, ill-health, or relationship challenges. And while our “first-world” problems are valid, reflecting on the experiences of those enduring war, famine, displacement, or grave injustice can help us shift perspective. Such reflection, when done intentionally, can fill our cups with gratitude despite the difficulties we may have faced.

A holistic approach to mindful celebration

As I’ve shared in our Becoming Unapologetically You series, our 5-step formula can help us shift and sustain behaviours, and this is especially helpful during moments of tension between joy and responsibility. Here’s how each step can guide us toward a mindful, balanced festive season:

1. Hover: Pause and reflect
Before diving into celebrations, take a moment to hover over your thoughts and intentions. What does this festive season mean to you? Are your actions aligned with gratitude and kindness, or are they driven by external pressures or base desires?

2. Hold: Sit with the discomfort
Mindfulness often requires us to confront uncomfortable truths — about privilege, suffering, or the impact of our actions. Holding space for these feelings helps us connect to a deeper sense of purpose and reminds us of our responsibility to those less fortunate. 

3. Harness: Direct your energy purposefully
Use this awareness to harness your energy and resources in meaningful ways. For instance:

• Redirect part of your festive budget toward charity or causes that address suffering.

• Organise or participate in community initiatives that bring joy to others during this season.

• If you have children, consider how you can include them in these outward-facing activities which benefit others.

4. Hasten: Take action without delay
Good intentions without action mean little. Whether it’s reaching out to someone in need, donating to a cause, or reducing your own consumption, act swiftly. Sometimes, even small gestures — like checking in on a struggling friend or family member — can have a profound impact.

5. Harvest: Reflect and reap the rewards
At the end of this season, look back on the choices you made. Did they align with your values? Did they bring you a sense of fulfilment, gratitude, and connection? Harvesting these reflections will guide you into 2025 with greater clarity and purpose.

From over-indulgence to holistic fulfilment

The Becoming Unapologetically You formula helps us identify and enact holistic "cup-filling" activities, steering us away from a season of over-indulgence and self-adulation that ultimately leaves us feeling empty.

So as you celebrate, remember: being mindful of others’ struggles doesn’t mean forgoing joy. It means celebrating in a way that uplifts not only yourself but those around you — near or far.

What mindful choices will you make this festive season? Share your thoughts below or journal your reflections to start this journey.