This time of year is a mixed bag, and anyone who tells you otherwise is either lying or selling something. Yes, there’s the standard fare of gatherings, glitter, and enough seasonal treats to justify buying stock in elastic waistbands. But for a frankly huge number of people, this season is simply stressful.
We’re talking family tension, the financial hemorrhage of gift-giving, the feeling of being utterly overwhelmed, and the sheer emotional overload of performing “the spirit of the season.”
You’re told to “focus on the joy” to bring more positive experiences, but how, exactly, are you supposed to conjure that “spirit” when you’re running on fumes?
Stop Waiting for a Reason to Be Happy
Here’s the inconvenient truth: you don’t need a reason to be happy. That’s a misconception peddled by people who think happiness is a reward. Your feelings are entirely your choice. You can decide to feel good even when the world is spinning out of control and your relatives are arguing over politics. Choose to feel joyful. Why? Because that mindset makes solutions and positive experiences show up faster and easier.
Make this choice a habit. Practice feeling happy every day. After about 30 days of this, it will become your default state, bringing a significant amount of ease (and probably more money) into your perpetually stressed life.
The Overwhelm Myth
If the season currently has you pinned under a mountain of tasks, stop panicking. Instead of letting overwhelm run the show, try this: Choose a new thought. “I have enough time to get everything done.” Just keep thinking it. Time will genuinely expand for you. Suddenly, someone offers to help, or a three-hour chore takes twenty minutes. Stop fighting the clock; change the thought. It’s effective.
The Financial Strain
If you’re broke, stop trying to buy your way into affection. Consider giving gifts of time or, better yet, regift a special treasure. Nobody needs another poorly-made gadget. Gifts of food, or offering to help with cleaning, cooking, or childcare, are appreciated more than anything bought at the mall. The joyful gift is time spent with people, not debt incurred for things.
Dealing with the Family Drama
Family relationships challenging? Stop trying to fix them through confrontation. Try visualizing all those involved feeling blessed and appreciating each other. Send them (and yourself) healing thoughts. This is the season of miracles, apparently. Suspend disbelief for a second and try to see one happening in your own disaster of a life.
Make a commitment to actually experience the JOY this month. If that feels like a stretch, start with the lowest common denominator: express gratitude for what you have. This will, predictably, bring more of it to you. Notice the few moments of beauty, the genuine love people manage to express, and the good food. Make a conscious choice to embrace joy and generously gift your appreciation to others. Otherwise, you’re just wasting the month.
