Ep 103: Tools to Create Zen This Holiday Season with Susie Amato-Henderson, Ph.D.

It’s Christmas week, and there’s a certain hum in the air. A quiet pressure to keep everything moving, everyone happy, and yourself composed, even when you’re running on fumes.In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Susie Amato-Henderson for an honest conversation about creating real zen during the holidays, not by escaping the chaos, but by meeting it differently. We talk about her journey from caretaking and control to discovering joy later in life, and how mindfulness, nervous system awareness, and adaptive capacity can change the way we move through stress.This conversation is an invitation to slow down, soften your grip, and remember that peace isn’t something you earn once the holidays are over. It’s something you’re allowed to create, right now, exactly as you are. Topics Covered:The emotional pressure and quiet exhaustion that often show up during the holidays.Discovering joy later in life and letting go of a lifelong caretaker identity.The difference between resilience and adaptive capacity, surviving versus truly growing.How mindfulness helps regulate stress and calm the nervous system.Releasing control and perfectionism during family gatherings and daily lifeSimple, accessible mindfulness practices that take seconds, not hours.Protecting your peace around people who are not emotionally awareChoosing presence, self-care, and compassion in imperfect holiday moments.Connect with Susie!Website: https://www.sisuzy.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susie_ah/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558690847434LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanamatohenderson ______________________Contact French Kissing Life PodcastDM us at @shawnnarstiver on Instagram or FacebookConnect with Shawnna Stiver on LinkedInEmail us at [email protected] Until next time, muah! ______________________French Kissing Life is sponsored by Ampersand Copy and Content. Ready to convert browsers into buyers? If you want to master your messaging, stand out in a saturated market and become a crushed-on, go-to brand, contact us today!Website: https://ampersandcopyandcontent.com/Email: [email protected]