Are you dreading the holidays? Or, are you hoping this year will be different?
Take a deep breath. You are a powerful creator and have a whole lot of say about what kind of holidays you will have this year.
The single greatest key to enjoying the holidays is choosing to be proactive rather than just being at the effect of the decisions other people are making.
You are the author of your own experience. The thoughts you nurture and the stories you tell yourself will determine whether you suffer through the season or create a better experience for yourself this year.
Step One: Set a Clear Intention
Don’t just try to have a better holiday. Commit to it.
Make your well-being a priority. Choose to pay attention to what really matters to you and decide to care for yourself as lovingly as you can.
Ask yourself, What would it look like to give myself a good holiday experience this year?
When you claim that power, you begin to create it.
Step Two: Be Honest About Your Expectations
If you always spend the holidays with people who drain your spirit or you’re grieving a loss, your needs may look different this year.
Ask yourself, What do I really want? What brings me joy? What parts feel heavy or lonely?
Be ruthlessly honest.
Expectations create experiences.
If you assume nothing will change, it probably won’t.
But if you approach the season as a chance to practice having a different kind of inner experience you can make that happen. You’d be surprised at how even if nothing changes on the outside, you can have a totally different experience on the inside. Just decide to participate in your own experience and experience your own participation. In other words, pay attention to your self and what it’s like being you. When you are taking care of your own inner needs, you don’t have to feel victimized by how others behave.
Step Three: Choose What Feeds Your Soul
This year, dare to do it differently. Even if the main event stays the same, supplement your experience with things that truly matter to you.
-
Spend time with someone whose company genuinely uplifts you.
-
Volunteer and make another person’s holiday brighter.
-
Create a feast for one and savor every bite.
-
Let the day pass quietly and peacefully.
-
Host your own gathering, designed exactly your way.
Whatever you do, let it be a conscious choice, not an old obligation.
The holidays don’t have to be about proving, pleasing, or pretending. They can be about listening deeply to your heart and giving yourself permission to follow its lead.
Do what feels meaningful. Be with people who appreciate you. And above all, take responsibility for warming the tender corners of your own sweet heart.
If you would like to know more about me and my work, please explore my website here.
Do you know someone who might benefit from reading this article? If so, please share it with them.
Happy holidays. ✨
