Hello,
It’s common knowledge that the holiday season is a stressful time for many people. We’ve come to expect it, just about. The increase in human interactions and conversations (through the shopping, parties and other gatherings) makes it more likely that someone will say or hear something offensive. The increased focus on gifts, loved ones and the stress of strained or broken relationships…or no significant relationship, adds to the perceived stress of the season.
But it doesn’t need to be this way.
Practice these five P’s and I assure you, the stress will be avoided. More than that even, you will experience the joy of the season.
The Five P’s of a Happy Holiday:
1) First on the list is PRAY for PEACE. If you are a praying person, praying for peace at this time is the first step to achieving it. Pray for peace, and for other people. Claiming your hopes and dreams for the season through prayer is powerful. Like optimism and positive thinking, prayer requires action as well.. We can’t just pray and proceed to do things that will create chaos. Do what you pray for. Of course, if you do pray, don’t worry…doing both makes no sense.
A perfect prayer during this season is a prayer of gratitude. We have so much to be grateful for despite what may be missing from our lives. For me, remembering the actual reason for the season, fills me with gratitude for Jesus and what he came and died for.
Now if you are not a praying person, still be still. Do whatever you do to tap into your source of strength, wisdom and peace. Whether it is meditating, nature strolls, singing or reading, do it. Find your strength and be still in it.
2) PLAN & PREPARE. Make a plan and prepare for the season then write it down. Visualize your goals being realized and doing what you need to do to realize them. Once the plan for peace and other outcomes of your desire is written, you cannot place it in a drawer. You have to live this plan. The plan should have action steps and desired outcomes attached. After writing and posting (where you can see it regularly) your plan, proceed to DO what is on it. Do what needs to be done each day to honor you plan. Like roadmaps, plans get us where we’re headed; without them we end up where life takes us. Be proactive (another P word!) and create your plan today so tomorrow can be as you dreamed.
3) POSTPONE (or not…up to you). As the last sentence of the last P states…be proactive and take charge of your timetable. If something comes up that you’d rather deal with at a later date, simply postpone it! Suggest an alternate time to discuss, sort out or even fuss about it. If you are determined to be at peace, you will be: Taking charge of your life and your reactions is necessary though. So if you’re at a family gathering and someone wants to talk about a potentially volatile issue and you’d rather not at that time, thank the person for wanting to clear it up (I know, this may be a stretch but try it anyway!) and suggest another time to discuss. Meeting for tea or lunch, privately and at a place that is comfortable for both parties would produce far better results anyway…so postponing is a good thing for other reasons as well. Another great outcome of being proactive and postponing a discussion is this: people get an opportunity to think through the conversation and perhaps get less emotional.
Now if a conversation is long overdue and the time and space is available to have a private conversation then postponing may not be necessary…but the point here is that you should feel comfortable with having that choice. No need to feel stressed and trapped into dealing with anything you’d rather not deal with during this season of joy and celebration.
4) PERFECTION…is not an option. Don’t expect a perfect holiday season. Expect some bumps along the way and visualize yourself handling them with ease and clam. The bumps will add to the overall wonderful memory of the holiday…they are like the spices we add to our food. Too much would be horrible but the right amount is just right. So get rid of the stress you place on yourself by expecting things to be perfect. Expect life to be as life is, un-expectable.
5) PATIENCE…more than anything, practice patience this holiday season. Patience is a virtue in all cultures and all spiritual worlds. Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Kwanza or Chanukah, patience will see you through. Taking a deep breath (or many) and deciding to be the calm voice in the midst of the chaos (please tell me where was this thought, this morning at 7 while dealing with an unhelpful sales person?) Believe me I know this is easier, much easier said than done but it is powerful to get it right even if only once out of 10 attempts. At least the effort is there and that one success at exercising patience will grow to two, then three and four. If we are putting in the work, progress is inevitable.
Some tips on practicing patience:
- Breathe…deep and often.
- Count to 10 or 100, just put some distance between your emotions and your reactions.
- Pray and affirm OFTEN ( nd especially when ‘stuff’ pops up) some predetermined scripture or phrase that has a powerful effect on you…be prepared!
- Journal each night about anxieties, hopes, dreams, struggles with patience, plans for the season and anything else that is on your mind. You will find the more things are expressed and off your heart and chest, the more patient you can be.
- Repeat “I am a patient person” as often as possible – let that be where your mind goes in between thoughts…speaking to your subconscious regularly is the only way to have impact on beliefs and behavior.
- Post signs and reminders around your space about your patience
- Wear a rubber band and snap each time you get impatient.
- Give yourself a deep hug each time you are!
So these are your five P’s for a happy holiday season. My holiday is Christmas…when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Whatever you are celebrating, I wish you the best one ever.
It can be the most happy holiday, if you make it happen.
Wishing you peace, patience and joy,
♥~