Returning to Balance in a Season of Excess

As we move toward the holidays, the world around us grows louder—festivities, family dynamics, financial pressures, endless to-dos, and the ever-present pull of social media and the 24-hour news cycle. At the same time, nature is moving steadily toward stillness. The Winter Solstice, the darkest day of the year, invites us inward. It reminds us that rest, restraint, and conscious choice are part of a healthy rhythm.

This is where Brahmacharya comes in.

Traditionally translated as “right use of energy,” Brahmacharya is the Yama, the yogic moral guideline, that asks us to notice how we spend ourselves—our time, emotions, attention, and life force. Rather than seeing it as restriction, we can view Brahmacharya as an invitation back into balance. It asks: What nourishes me? What depletes me? What helps me feel whole?

During a season often marked by excess—overcommitting, overspending, overthinking, overconsumption of so many resources—Brahmacharya encourages a soft recalibration. It doesn’t tell us to withdraw from celebration or generosity; it simply encourages conscious participation. A pause before saying yes. A breath before reacting. A moment of stillness before consuming more news, more notifications, more noise.

As the Winter Solstice nears, let nature guide us. The earth slows down. Light becomes scarce. We’re reminded that renewal happens not from pushing harder but from honoring quiet, becoming clear about intention, and practicing enough-ness.

Brahmacharya isn’t about doing less for the sake of less—it’s about doing what aligns. In this season, may we spend our energy wisely, lovingly, and in ways that help us feel balanced and deeply well.