By John Sanders, LUKE CEO

At this time of year, three simple words surface again and again — peace, joy, and love. They appear on cards, in emails, in quiet conversations, and in moments we do not always know how to put into words. They may feel familiar, even expected, yet they are far from ordinary because they speak to something deeply human and deeply needed, our shared desire to flourish.

I find that Christmas has a unique way of slowing us down just enough to remember what matters most. Amid the lights, traditions, and togetherness, there is a kind of magic in being reminded of connection, meaning, and hope. This is not sentimentality for its own sake. Research in psychology and human flourishing suggests that what we experience during the holidays, reflection, nostalgia, love, forgiveness, and generosity, can have a real and lasting impact on our wellbeing.

The Power of Remembering

One of the quiet gifts of the holiday season is nostalgia, the memories of people, places, and moments that shaped us. The smell of a familiar dish, a song from years past, or a family tradition repeated once again can bring warmth even when life feels heavy.

Psychological research shows that when we reflect on meaningful memories, we reinforce our sense of identity, belonging, and continuity. Remembering moments when we felt loved, supported, or purposeful can strengthen resilience and increase optimism for the future. Nostalgia reminds us that we have endured, that we have been cared for, and that connection is possible again, even if circumstances have changed.

During the holidays, nostalgia often rises naturally. We remember loved ones no longer with us, traditions we hold dear, and moments of joy that shaped who we are. While these reflections can be bittersweet, they also help anchor us. They remind us that we are part of something larger than ourselves: a family, a community, a story still unfolding.

Love as the Foundation of Flourishing

At the heart of flourishing is love, not as a vague feeling, rather as a lived experience expressed through care, commitment, compassion, and kindness. Dr. Tyler J. VanderWeele, Director of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, has written extensively about the central role love plays in human flourishing. His work emphasizes that being loved and loving others are not only deeply meaningful for their own sake, but they are also foundational to wellbeing across nearly every domain of life.

Research connected to this body of work shows that loving relationships within families, marriages, friendships, and communities are associated with better mental health, improved physical health, greater resilience, and a stronger sense of meaning and purpose. For example, parental warmth supports healthy emotional development. Strong relational bonds within marriage are linked to long term health benefits. Expressions of love through forgiveness, compassion, and service have also been shown to reduce anxiety and depression while increasing hope.

As Dr. VanderWeele’s research shows, love is not a “soft” or secondary factor in wellbeing, it is a powerful force that shapes how individuals and communities thrive over time. The holidays remind us of this truth in simple and profound ways.

Peace Through Love

Peace is often understood as the absence of conflict, yet deeper peace is more enduring. It is the presence of goodwill, understanding, and reconciliation, even in imperfect circumstances.

Studies on forgiveness and compassion, closely aligned with the human flourishing framework, suggest that peace often begins internally. When we choose to replace ill-will with goodwill, whether toward others or ourselves, we experience measurable benefits, including lower stress, reduced anxiety, improved emotional health, and greater overall well-being.

For some, the holiday season can surface unresolved tensions or long-held grief. Yet it also offers opportunities for grace, for reconciliation, and for choosing love over division. Peace grows when we approach ourselves and others with empathy, patience, and humility. There is a difference between peace and avoidance, and peace through love does not mean ignoring pain or pretending everything is fine. It means acknowledging our shared humanity and choosing connection, even when it requires courage.

Joy That Is Shared

Like so many, I experience Christmas joy in shared moments like the laughter around a table, a child’s excitement, a quiet conversation, or the simple act of giving. Research consistently shows that acts of kindness like volunteering, helping a neighbor, and supporting those in need, are strongly associated with improved mental and physical health. These acts of generosity, which can be understood as expressions of love, bring us joy and while increasing our sense of meaning and belonging.

Most importantly, joy multiplies when it is shared. It reminds us that flourishing is not a solitary pursuit. We flourish together—in families, workplaces, and communities—when we care for one another.

The Holiday Invitation

The magic of the holidays is not about perfection, it is about presence, remembering who we are, and returning to what truly sustains us. It is about choosing peace when the world feels loud, choosing joy when life feels heavy, and choosing love when it would be easier to withdraw.

As we wish one another peace, joy, and love this season, we are offering more than kind words. We are affirming something essential, echoed in Dr. VanderWeele’s work and the broader field of human flourishing, that love, connection, and meaning are not optional extras, they are essential foundations for wellbeing.

May this season remind us that even small acts of love matter, that remembering can heal, that peace is possible, and that joy, when shared, has the power to carry us forward into the new year and beyond.

From all of us at LUKE, we wish you peace, joy, and love this Christmas and always.