How To Craft A Holiday Season Filled With Joy -- Not Stress

This time of year is a struggle for lots of people. The pressure and expectation can suck all the fun out of what could be a wonderful and loving few weeks. Does this sound familiar?
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The holiday season is upon us. Thanksgiving comes first and is my favorite. It's all about the food and no one has to buy any presents. Then the long and often too commercial decent into Christmas. What are your plans?

Holidays or Hell A Days?

I've seen tons of chatter this season about coping with the holidays. Tough times at family get togethers. Office parties that go bad. (Who ever thought putting their butt on a photo copy machine was a good idea?) Shopping pressure, long lines and money worries from over spending. The extra work of cooking and decorating the holidays bring, on top of everything else we have piled on us. It can be a lot.

This time of year is a struggle for lots of people. The pressure and expectation can suck all the fun out of what could be a wonderful and loving few weeks. Does this sound familiar?

Life is Choices

How are the holidays for you? Really. I want to know. Are they fun and joyful, filled with laughter and love, or is it something you feel you have to work to get through? Or is it a little bit of both?

If there are parts that aren't fun, can you eliminate them? If not, why not? What parts do you love? Can you do more of that? What would you like to do that you haven't been able to? How can you add it?

It's your life and your holiday season. How can you make it work for you? Here are some ideas:

  • Make a list of what you love about the holidays
  • Make a list of who you want to spend the holidays with
  • Make a list of the events you want to participate in
  • Make a list of what makes you feel good during the holiday season

And then . . .

  • Make a list of what you don't enjoy about the holidays
  • Make a list of who you don't want to spend time with this holiday season
  • Make a list of the events you don't want to participate in
  • Make a list of what makes you feel bad during the holidays

Now take this information and craft the holiday that feels good for you. Decide how to make it a season that will fill you with joy, inspire you with generosity and allow you to shower those you care about with love. It's your life and you get to choose.

Plan For Happiness

Take a few minutes now to wrangle this holiday season into something that will fill you with happiness. You'll be a better friend, co-worker and family member if you can bring your best and most loving self to the holiday season. Make it your best one yet!

I love the holidays, it's one of my favorite times of the year. I'm very careful about how I spend my time and who I spend it with, my Christmas season is very important time of joy for me. I can't wait to start decking the halls of my little nest!

Kimberly Montgomery is the creator of the Choices Notebook and blogger at Fifty Jewels.com, where she encourages people to use their powers for good. Hop on over there to grab some free tools to help you easily add more Gratitude and Thank You's into your life.

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