Work on approaching your holiday goals from a place of I can rather than I can't.
Most holiday plans begin by outlining everything that you can't do or won't have time to do. You can't enjoy your office holiday party because you don't want to be the buffoon everyone talks about if you imbibe a bit too much spiked nog. You can't taste the fudge that your friend Linda made because you don't want to gain excess holiday weight. You can't partake in the seasonal gift exchange because your budget is already stretched to the max on other holiday gifts. You can't, you can't, you can't.
When you begin from a place of can't, you raise feelings of helplessness and even depression, aka holiday blues. However, you can enjoy the holidays fully while adding to your enjoyment a simple approach to action. You can feel closer to your family and friends, and enjoy great activities and treats with them. Be more confident, more positive, more in control of your life, and celebrate with a spirit of gratitude. Approach your holiday goals from a place of I can, and the power swings back into your favor. And it so much more enjoyable than depriving yourself of Christmas cheer.
Steps to regain your holiday power:
1. Focus on positive action.
Rather than obsess over what you can't do this holiday season, take the positive action of experimenting with "doing a bit more." Every time that you complete a a task, enjoy the surge of empowerment that comes with the accomplishment.
Hallelujah, I found some bargains at the sale table!
2. Schedule positive action.
The next step is to schedule festivities that you want to attend. Open the calendar and write in pen what & who you desire to share your time with. Now also schedule in pen, your off time: sudsy bath, hiking, reading a book, a leisurely hour spent at a coffee shop, or even a well deserved nap. Also, pencil in those gatherings that might be doable. Please avoid the temptation to overdo plan or overextend your finances, but make each activity important that you commit too and follow thru on participation. Schedule a variety of ways to create joy.
The next step is to schedule festivities that you want to attend. Open the calendar and write in pen what & who you desire to share your time with. Now also schedule in pen, your off time: sudsy bath, hiking, reading a book, a leisurely hour spent at a coffee shop, or even a well deserved nap. Also, pencil in those gatherings that might be doable. Please avoid the temptation to overdo plan or overextend your finances, but make each activity important that you commit too and follow thru on participation. Schedule a variety of ways to create joy.
3. Reward yourself for positive action.
Each week reward yourself for successfully completing scheduled festivity. Pat yourself on the back and praise the elves that helped you accomplish your holiday goals. Your biggest reward is your sense of pride and accomplishment as you reflect on your success during this overloaded holiday time.
Each week reward yourself for successfully completing scheduled festivity. Pat yourself on the back and praise the elves that helped you accomplish your holiday goals. Your biggest reward is your sense of pride and accomplishment as you reflect on your success during this overloaded holiday time.
If you believe that it isn't possible to do anything extra-special then you probably won't do it or will have resentment of what you "have to do." Choose to believe and celebrate the holidays with friends and family. No one wants a grumpy miserable friend who is pushing too hard to do all and becomes the Grinch or Ice Queen. Please, instead, take each activity as a blessing and focus on the little sparkly merry moments.
Remember to take small actions to change your beliefs. Now, commit to showing up to all of your scheduled festivities. Don't worry about being the best guest possible until you are at the party. Only commit to SHOWING UP for 20-30 minutes, no matter what. Once you are at the event, then you can focus on the next action: simply saying "Merry Christmas" to a few friends and family. Then, after you're sitting there soaking up all the pleasant banter, you can think about starting to mix and mingle. But do not think too far ahead. You already know how to do the next step once you're at the festivities, so you don't need waste time contemplating it one bit right now.
No matter what you believe is ultimately possible for you, I know you can enjoy a little bit of holiday cheer and share your spirit with others regardless of budgets or time constraints. You can do these actions almost without thinking, and without effort, be your best self, and spread cheer. Every day during the holiday season there is no need to deprive yourself of anything, be kind, be grateful and take each moment as it comes to you.
Start today to build your power of holiday goals and share your spirit of thankfulness. See what happens and remind yourself there is a reason for this season. Peace. Love. Joy.
When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow, we hear sweet voices ringing from lands of long ago, and etched on vacant places are half-forgotten faces of friends we used to cherish, and loves we used to know. ~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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