The Spirit of Christmas—All Year Long

During the Christmas season, we often feel deep and beautiful emotions such as joy, gratitude, generosity, and love stirring within us. Regardless of our cultural or spiritual background, many of us experience a natural concern for others, a willingness to share, and a sense of connection with those around us. It’s as if this time of year brings out something special in us—but what if this special quality isn’t limited to the holiday season?

Sydney Banks pointed out that these feelings are not triggered by specific times or events. They are part of our nature—always available, no matter what is happening around us. We don’t have to wait for the holidays to feel love, gratitude, or joy. We are designed to live in these pleasant feelings all year round.

The beautiful feelings we may associate with the Christmas season are manifestations of the spiritual energy from which we are created. The energy that Syd referred to as “Mind” expresses itself through love, understanding, kindness, and compassion, and is our true nature. We are simply meant to live in joy and harmony with others in a state of peace.

The Metaphor of the Frozen River

But why, then, does it seem as if some of those warm and loving feelings disappear once the holidays are over? The answer lies in our way of thinking. When we return to our daily lives and once again allow our habitual thoughts to take over—worries, comparisons, self-criticism—we create an illusion of separation from the love that is within us. We also create an illusion of separation from others.

Sydney Banks often used metaphors to illustrate deeper truths about life. Consider, for example, a river covered by a thick layer of ice. Even though it looks as if the river is completely frozen over, the water still flows unimpeded just beneath the layer of ice.

In the same way, those beautiful feelings may seem to have vanished beneath the heavy blanket of habitual thinking, but worries and self-criticism are, like ice, only a layer. Beneath that, those loving feelings are always flowing freely. It simply takes a moment of insight—an awakening to the truth of our thoughts—to rediscover and reconnect with them.

Waking Up to the Present Moment

When we realize that our emotions are determined by how we use our thoughts in the moment, we are less trapped in habitual thinking. This insight is our freedom. We don’t need to try to change our thoughts or avoid them. We simply need to see that it is our thoughts alone that stand between us and our natural state of love and joy.

When we awaken to this truth, we return to the beautiful feelings we long to experience. We begin to live in the moment, free from self-absorption and worries. We feel a deeper connection to life and to the people around us.

This text is an invitation to discover that the feelings we associate with the Christmas season are not limited to a specific time of year. They are a part of us, always available if we let them come to the surface. As Syd said, “The most unnatural thing for a human being is to be unhappy.” Our natural state is joy, love, and peace.

So the next time you feel gratitude, generosity, or love, take note of that feeling. Stay in that moment. It’s your true nature shining through, and you can live in that state—not just during the holidays—but all year round.