This year has been an incredibly difficult one for me personally and also for many around me. Significant relationship break-ups, work dismissals, family issues, financial stress, health concerns and housing disputes are among the things that have made 2024 a tough year. Of course, so is the state that the world is currently in, with looming climate disaster in the horizon, wars and genocides that seems to have become normalized and unending, and the ability of people to ignore the problematic existence of multi-billionaires in society.

Inhale. Exhale. 

Inhale. Exhale. 

I often need to remind myself to take deep breaths and look after my body. This is one of the only actual things that is within our power to take care of as individuals living in a technofeudalist society. Many of us have not grown up prioritizing our own needs over other “responsibilities,” such as work and societal pressures. This is exacerbated by the lack of balance in our lives as we continue to deprioritize ourselves, which leads to stress, illness, hopelessness and many more issues we see in individuals and our society as a whole.

I have been looking forward to Advent. I’ve needed it for what seems like years now. There is wisdom in having cycles to follow such as the church calendar, which takes us through seasons that parallel life’s struggles and needs. Advent is the season I need. I’ve been needing to renew my hope, to find peace, to experience joy and to allow myself the love I know I deserve. I have also been reflecting on how my faith in Jesus makes a difference in my outlook on life through the tough seasons. I invite you to reflect on the Advent words with me and explore how they may benefit you in this season of life.

1. Hope

Hope is essential for human survival. According to Psychology Today, “during tough times, future-oriented hopefulness is a better coping strategy than in-the-moment mindfulness.” Hope can give people the strength to withstand the hard moments by allowing the imagination to picture brighter days ahead. Therefore, “when people are hopeful — and happy — they experience less distress, are more engaged with their work, and feel less tension related to their professional lives.”

2. Peace

I’d like to focus on peace “as inner calm … an internal state of tranquility. When you … might feel at ease within yourself, a sense of self-compassion, unruffled by day-to-day worries [and] prepared to welcome whatever life tosses your way.” Of course, other types of peace are also important, but we can all start by “accepting what can’t be controlled, forgiving yourself and others, staying focused on the here and now, going within, journaling your thoughts and emotions [and] connecting to Mother Earth.”

3. Joy

According to Harvard Medical School, “joy is a state of mind that can be found even in times of grief or uncertainty. Thus, we can work on cultivating joy independent of our circumstances.” This in turn can improve our overall health and extend our life expectancy.

4. Love

Love also has great health benefits, whether it’s in social relationships such as friendships or family, or in romantic relationships. Time magazine summarizes the benefits of love in one’s life into five statements: Love makes you happy, Love busts stress, Love eases anxiety, Love makes you take better care of yourself and Love helps you live longer.

5. Jesus

In Advent, we anticipate the birth of Jesus. This is a hopeful and joyous time. However, many of us forget that it was not a peaceful time for the common people, and they certainly did not feel loved. In fact, the time before Jesus is often referred to as the 400 years of silence, when some believe God didn’t speak to the Jewish people. These were dark, desperate and hopeless times. The anticipation of the Messiah was latching onto a hope that everyone needed and not just wished for. It was what they had to believe in order to survive. Faith in Jesus wasn’t only about faith; it was also about survival. In these times, faith in Jesus can also remind us that sometimes, in our darkest moments, we need to hold onto hope, find strength to wish for peace, cultivate moments of joy and never give up on love.