How are you coping during these Holidays?
Are you enjoying the warmth and love of family and friends,
Or are you stressing out with trying to please everybody but yourself? Spreading yourself a little thin?
Confirming to all the expectations, hurting because some are no longer at the table or things have changed so much that the feeling of peace on earth has gone from the celebrations?
I know it can be a hard time, living on the opposite side of the world means that Christmas is often spent without the people I hold near and dear and adjustments are made to fill in the gaps.
Whatever and however you to spend these days, the outside world all around us shows an image of the Holiday Season that is often very different from how we experience it ourselves. So how can you make it easier for yourself?
Accept who you are, how you feel and know that there is no reason to explain yourself to the others that think you “should be this”, ”should do that” or “try x,y,z”
Accept the others for who they are as well, live and let live. Everybody is unique and brings something special to the world as a whole, let’s celebrate this. Remember words hold a lot of power. One word can both lift up and break down. Make it a habit to use and listen to those that are positive and uplifting. And if there is no positive to be found, then turn your direction where there is positivity and light. Where you focus that will grow, focus on light and good things and they will grow in your life, trust this. Would you prefer to be more positive?
Sometimes it is easier to take a moment, a little space or distance to gather your thoughts. Take a little walk to come back to you, reflect, tap into your inner core. There where you can truly find your own force. Be honest with yourself and clear: about what and who is important enough to feel stressed over.
For those that are away from loved ones during the Holidays, it can be an extra difficult time. Luckily there is technology to connect now and use this! It makes you feel so much closer. Another thing to do is to reach out, always feel you can ask your friends for company and support (if they are your friends, they will! And again: this will give you so much clarity on where to put your time, effort and trust)
Be clear with yourself, be clear towards others and they will in return be clear to you too. It is that simple, really. Open up your heart and others will open their hearts to you.
Some people love to keep a low profile and actually prefer the time to be “alone” and that is totally okay too, so respect their choice in that as well.
Remember we can all create our own Festive traditions and make it a special time for ourselves. So be inspired to create something beautiful for you, trust that that is totally fine and rise to your own occasion, so you can soar into 2018 with a clear vision and focus on what you want to achieve. (and if you need a bit of help, reach out!)
As always, much Love and Light.
P.S. I like to share with you this beautiful poem I came across, by Mary Anne Perrone. (She calls it “Christmas at Midlife” I would use it for any occasion and at any age really, take this to heart, enjoy!)
– “ I am no longer waiting for a special occasion; I burn the best candles on ordinary days.
I am no longer waiting for the house to be clean; I fill it with people who understand that even dust is Sacred.
I am no longer waiting for everyone to understand me; It’s just not their task
I am no longer waiting for the perfect children; my children have their own names that burn as brightly as any star.
I am no longer waiting for the other shoe to drop; It already did, and I survived.
I am no longer waiting for the time to be right; the time is always now.
I am no longer waiting for the mate who will complete me; I am grateful to be so warmly, tenderly held.
I am no longer waiting for a quiet moment; my heart can be stilled whenever it is called.
I am no longer waiting for the world to be at peace; I unclench my grasp and breathe peace in and out.
I am no longer waiting to do something great; being awake to carry my grain of sand is enough.
I am no longer waiting to be recognized; I know that I dance in a holy circle.
I am no longer waiting for Forgiveness. I believe, I Believe” –