Day 5 of The Calm & Bright Holiday Podcast Trail: Ritual, Calm & Presence Over Performance | Aligned & Abundant Ep. 35

Special Collab Episode: Calm & Bright Holiday Podcast Trail

Welcome to the Aligned & Abundant Podcast — a space for heart-led people who are ready to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and live with more intention, alignment, and ease.

You are listening to Day 5 of the Calm & Bright Holiday Podcast Trail, a collaborative holiday podcast series created to help you find calm, grounding, and emotional balance during the holiday season — without adding more pressure, obligation, or overwhelm.

If you’d like to start at the very beginning of this journey, head over to the Inner Spark Podcast hosted by Casey Taton and listen to Day 1. Each episode in this podcast trail lives on a different podcast, hosted by a different voice, offering simple, soul-nourishing support to help you move through the holidays with more ease.

✨ All of the days, podcasts, and hosts are listed below so you can easily follow along, listen in order, and share the trail with anyone who could use a little more calm and brightness this season.

Day 1: Inner Spark Podcast hosted by Casey Taton 

Day 2: Live a Vibrant Life hosted by Kelly Tibbitts 

Day 3: Her Gypsy Rebel hosted by Jacqueline van Bierk

Day 4: Inner Spark Podcast hosted by Casey Taton 

Day 5: You're here!

Day 6: Worthy and Abundant Podcast hosted by Linda Brand 

In this episode, we explore:

• Why simple daily and holiday rituals matter more than doing things perfectly
• How to create small pockets of peace before, during, and after holiday gatherings
• Why rest is preparation — not laziness
• Setting intentions before gatherings (“I choose calm. I don’t need to perform.”)
• Creating a cue word or signal with your partner for support or leaving early
• Giving yourself permission to step away from conversations
• Using the bathroom as a sacred pause to reset your nervous system
• Hydration, comfort, and dressing in ways that help your body feel safe
• Letting yourself gravitate toward people you feel comfortable with
• Simplifying gift giving — presence over perfection
• Setting time boundaries for visits
• Dividing responsibilities through potlucks and shared support

All of these practices become rituals you can return to again and again, helping you stay grounded even when