Jingle Bell Stress: Finding Peace During the Holidays
I know I’m not alone in saying the holiday season is massively stressful.
I decided this year I’d do my best to take it on with grace.
Manage my time.
Honor my “yes” & “no”.
Breathe.
I was on a mission to not let stress defeat me Thanksgiving -New Years. First- I visualized what I wanted the season to look like.
I wanted to enjoy the holidays: make memories, marvel at decorations, go see the lights with my kids, bake cookies, host a gathering, spend time with family.
I also wanted to make sure my work & coaching practice continued to run smoothly- meeting with clients and providing top-quality service, writing blogs, hosting podcast-style interviews, etc.
I also wanted to honor my health. All the extra events and activities bring on a different type of chaos. Waking up early for exercise and meal planning for busy days is more crucial than ever.
With all this in mind… I put plans in place to make things happen.
I scheduled a holiday get together for each of my daughters.
I purchased tickets for the Xmas light show.
I said yes to the local Santa breakfast.
I said no to a weekend road trip.
I blocked my holiday office hours, and scheduled projects.
I set my daily alarm for 5:30am to exercise.
I planned for the week and shopped and prepped meals/snacks.
All my intentions were backed up with objectives and I took action.
This is how we make things happen.
The Science of Achievement.
The ability to produce the results you want, and to create what you envision.
Yet- you can be certain- life will send you curve balls!
The meltdown of my 5yr old mid-holiday gathering, the fridge freezing over and ruining half my prepped salads for the week, the delay of Amazon shipping in which I realize my gifts won’t arrive until mid January, the work opportunities calling my name…
THIS is where the stress arises.
And THIS is when I call on grace.
What feels really, really good in these moments…is when we choose to calmly roll with it.
Breathe.
Nod.
Smile.
It’s not about a perfect orchestration.
The Art of Fulfillment. The ability to feel joy and happiness in the process. To delight in the experiences of life. And a master artist in this field can practice this skill in the midst of events like these.
In a sudden bout of traffic when you’re running late, do you fume with fury and mutter all the 4 letter words? Or, do you take a pause, breathe, and expand into surrendering what you have power over… and perhaps spend the extra few moments in your car looking out at the sky, or chatting with your little one in the backseat?
Practicing fulfillment in these moments is an art we are capable of mastering, with practice over time.
It’s the secret to living a life that is joyful, prosperous and at peace. I continue to mindfully return to this simple yet powerful mindset, nodding in gratitude for what is and accepting the unfolding.
So whether or not my holiday plans pan out perfectly (which I can guarantee they won’t)- I will enjoy this holiday season just by setting myself up for success and achievement, and practicing gratitude and fulfilment regardless of the journey.
I am a Life Coach, and I work with smart individuals who are currently feeling stuck. I help them get crystal clear on what it is they want, breakdown barriers and take on their desired transformations in their habits, health and relationships.
If you’d like to connect and learn more about working together, click here and book your free clarity call where you’ll get clear on your next steps to create the life you deeply desire.