Celebrating the holidays with ease, great energy and enjoyment can be a challenge. With the added pressures of the hustle and bustle, we can easily lose our peaceful disposition in a time when we are inspired to celebrate peace and joy. So many of us can spend the holidays upset, worried, anxious or frazzled and we miss out on the happiness that is present and available in the most wonderful time of the year. This year we can give ourselves the gift of feeling really good by shifting our internal landscape. Here are 6 simple ways to cultivate feelings of happiness, joy and peace, so that you can embrace this very special time of the year with ease, great energy and enjoyment.
See every encounter with your heart. When we view life through the resonance of what our heart feels we make the connection to the essence of what every human being potentially has within themselves. Make it a personal choice to see every encounter with family, friends or even strangers through the lens of love. When you make this connection to others with your heart you are truly immersed in the spirit of the season.
Don’t take things personally – Right? We all do it! In moments of difference, our first inclination can be to react rather than choose our emotionally intelligent response. We are meaning making machines when it comes to what people might say to us or do toward us. Instead of getting slighted, choose to take a step back and drop the rope that entangles you in emotional upset. Become the observer! From this position and view you can see things clearly and choose a mindful response.
Shift your perspective to an attitude of gratitude. A grateful heart does us good and unconditionally improves how you feel! You can go from feeling good to feeling great when you focus on all of the ways you are fortunate in life. Making gratitude a part of your daily practice can have a very positive effect on your outlook of life. Not to mention the more grateful you are the more you attract more reasons to be grateful. It’s a win-win!
Choose to affirm the positive view point by reaching for the healthier state of mind. It is said we have over 70,000 thoughts per day. Our thoughts eventually turn into our beliefs. How many of those thoughts and beliefs are limiting you? Every time you affirm something with your thoughts and words, you are getting into agreement with it. So, the question is, “Do you want to get into agreement with something that will limit you or do you want to welcome in a belief that has unlimited possibility?” Add your faith to the recipe of positive thinking and affirm what you truly desire.
Be connected to present moment living. Check in, where are you most of the time in your thought life? Most of the time we are either in the past having a “regrets review” or we are in the future worried and anxious about how everything is going to work out. All we have is the moment happening right now. It is in this moment that determines our personal sense of how we are viewing life as it is happening. If you want to experience the meaningful moments that are happening with an authentic connection, then make it a point to be “present” to the present moment.
Take really good care of yourself. A good self-care routine is a ritual we usually overlook especially when we are engaged with so much wanting our attention. Taking really good care of ourselves during the holidays needs to be at the top of our list. Make the time to take a pause and give the undivided attention and love you so often give to others, to yourself.
