Are Your Cups in Balance This Holiday Season?
Well, the holiday season is officially upon us, and with it comes a flurry of invitations, responsibilities, and things calling for our attention. It felt like the perfect time to share something that really spoke to me during a conversation I heard on Good Hang, Amy Poehler’s fun new podcast.
Amy was interviewing Maya Hawke, her fellow cast member from Disney Pixar’sInside Out 2. In this sequel, Amy reprised her role as “Joy” and Maya voiced her nemesis, “Anxiety.” The two discussed the emotions/characters they portrayed and how their dynamics resonated deeply with so many people. The film was a massive box office success, grossing over $1.5 billion worldwide.
Their conversation then turned to how they manage their energy as people who are both introverts and extroverts. I think a lot of us can relate to having aspects of both. I know I do. That’s when Maya talked about the“Three Cups.”
She maintains her energy, and perhaps her sanity, by keeping three metaphorical cups in balance:
Cup 1: Solo Time
Time alone to rest, recalibrate, and get in touch with our inner being. What is our soul calling for without the distraction of being around others?
Cup 2: One-on-One Connection
Heartfelt time with a close friend, family member, or trusted confidant. Those deep, nourishing conversations where we feel safe to let our guard down and be 100% ourselves.
Cup 3: Group Experiences
Engaging with a larger gathering, whether it’s a party, a class, a workshop, or a community event where we can establish a sense of belonging.
Maya shared that she’s happiest and most peaceful when she’s intentional about balancing all three cups. This model resonated with me immediately. We’ve all heard that introverts need more alone time and extroverts need more people time, but I love this added nuance of distinguishing one-on-one connection from larger social gatherings. They each feed us in very different ways.
As I reflected on my own three cups, it occurred to me that my weekly square dancing club nicely fills Cup 3. It brings me great joy to dance and laugh with that fun-loving group of people. It’s an uplifting, brain-challenging, and collaborative experience where I absolutely feel like I belong.
As for Cup 2, I’m blessed to have close friends right here on the Gulf Coast of Florida whom I regularly meet for a meal or a chat. I also get together with my “woo-woo” friends once in a while to pull oracle or tarot cards for each other. It’s a safe setting to be vulnerable, and the cards are always illuminating and spark great conversations.
I also cherish my friends and prayer partners who live in other parts of the country. Thanks to technology, we can have those sacred one-on-one conversations via Zoom, FaceTime, or an old-fashioned phone call.
And then there’s Cup 1: solo time. Since I live alone, this cup isn’t difficult for me to fill. I know that’s not the case for many of you reading this, but I can’t emphasize enough how beneficial it is to give yourself the gift of time alone whenever you can. After traveling so much during the first half of November, having an abundance of solitude over Thanksgiving was exactly what my soul needed to recharge.
If this tool speaks to you, I invite you to examine your Three Cups and see if they are in balance.
Is your solo cup running low—or overflowing?
Do you give yourself opportunities for meaningful one-on-one connection?
Are you engaging with groups or communities that lift you up, inspire you, or help you feel part of something larger than yourself?
It’s especially easy to tip out of balance this time of year. We might feel obligated to say “yes” to every holiday gathering invitation or request for our time. If the holidays bring up sad memories or grief around the passing of a loved one, we might do the opposite and retreat inward and isolate. Both can leave us feeling disconnected from the peace, love, and joy we truly desire.
This holiday season, perhaps you’ll be more mindful of which cups are low and which ones are overflowing. Once you’re aware of what’s out of balance, you can make different choices. Maybe that means saying “no” to that co-worker’s holiday party that feels more like work than fun. Maybe that means going beyond your comfort zone and saying “yes” to joining a friend at an ice-skating party. Or maybe it’s carving out time in your busy schedule to meet up with a dear friend for a heart-to-heart conversation and a warm chai latte.
If I can support you in balancing your cups, please don’t hesitate to reach out. A Spiritual Coaching Session or a Private Family Constellation is a great way to fill Cup 2. In all of my sessions, my number one priority is to create a safe space where you can share whatever is weighing on your heart. I would be honored to help you reframe or let go of old stories (perhaps around the holidays) and create new ones.
Please explore my website to learn more about these healing opportunities, book a session, or purchase a gift certificate for any of my services. I look forward to walking with you as you create space for more peace and joy in your life.
Until next time, I leave you with these three questions from Lesson 71 in the Workbook for Students in A Course in Miracles. May they help you discern the best way to balance your cups. I ask these questions every morning before I get out of bed, and they have helped me connect with a guide that always has my best interests at heart.
What would You have me do?
Where would You have me go?
What would You have me say, and to whom?
P.S. The “You” can be Spirit, God, Universe, Divine Presence, your Angels, Ancestors, Higher Self, or simply the Energy of Love. Whatever has meaning for you.
Clicke HERE to listen to the Good Hang podcast with Amy Poehler and Maya Hawke.