Navigating the holiday season without stress—yes, it’s possible! The holiday season, adorned with twinkling lights and heartfelt gatherings, often arrives hand in hand with a whirlwind of activities, emotions, and obligations. While it’s a time of celebration and joy, it can also bring a fair share of stress and overwhelm.

Recently, my friend Kyle Wilson invited me to join an inmate group in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., and spend two days with the effervescent Dr. Denis Waitley. This experience has been the highlight of the year for me. Dr. Waitley is 89 years young and the author of the best-selling book, The Psychology of Winning. He attended the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., and is the former chairman of psychology for the United States Olympic Committee’s Sports Medicine Council. Here are seven insights I learned from Dr. Waitley: