In this issue we look at stress in relation to the holiday season and how to cultivate a more joy-filled experience. Understanding what triggers us, and that we all need a deeper sense of healing in our lives, helps us navigate the season with kindness and awareness. We look at why suppressing our emotions actually makes us sick; what healthy empathy looks like (and what it is not); the effects of shame on our health; as well as the three types of stress. But we also look at the beautiful gift of peace and joy given to us at Christmas. And that this gift is the antidote to our human experience. Immanuel–God is with us!