HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS?
Learn to Manage the Stress and Enjoy the Season
That time of year is just around the corner, the time for family gatherings, good food and merriment. But along with all the rejoicing comes the extra stress and challenges of the holidays. Prominent Los Angeles-based life coach Dennis Grounds weighs in on how to survive the holiday season.
Beat the Stress: Pressure and stress are feelings that are manufactured. Notice when these feelings are present and simply stop where you are. Take a breath and ask yourself what would serve you best in this instance. Then do it. You choose to allow stress. So you can choose when to not allow it.
Family: Your family has known you for a long time. Just because you’ve achieved X, Y and Z, it doesn’t mean your family has forgotten your failures in the past. Or perhaps you have not accomplished what you said you would. This can lead to spoken or unspoken judgment and it’s easy to resort to protective and defensive habits around your family. Instead, do what works for you. If it works to stay around them, great. If not, who says you have to spend ten hours with your family when you only have tolerance for two?
Travel: Travel can be grim. Just look around at peoples’ faces at the airport. Everyone is pressing forward to a place they would rather be (or not be). Take the time to travel slowly and enjoy the people around you. Stop for a moment and enjoy the view. Pack and eat healthy along the way. Take care not to miss the value of our ability to travel long distances at great speed.
Shopping: This holiday tradition can be deadly to your mood and your bank account. Be conscious of what you’re shopping for and avoid the seductive nature of “shiny” things. Don’t buy gifts because you should or have to. Remember that it’s the thought that counts.
Holidays are meant to be a time of closeness and celebration. If it isn’t that way for you, start designing and living the holiday that you imagined. Choose how you feel, where you go and what you do.
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