Do the holidays stress you out?

“For fast acting relief, try slowing down.” Lily Tomlin

Are you among the majority that adds extra stress to your system at this time of the year?  Or, are you skilled at taking care of yourself to enjoy your friends and family with ease?

If someone told you that the holidays don’t create extra stress, would you believe it? Well, this is true! The holidays don’t create stress. We do!

How we perceive and meet life is within our domain. We do have choice. We have an ability to manage our stress when we put attention and action toward this goal. Or, we can also create excess stress when we don’t use our awareness. Our stress levels go up when we:

    • Pressurize ourselves by over-doing, over-spending or over-indulging.
    • Fuel our anxiety by worrying and attempting to control the future.
    • Create expectations of how our family and friends need to show up for us to be comfortable.
    • Obligate ourselves rather than do what works for us.
    • Fail to ask for the support we need.
    • Refuse to set boundaries with ourselves and others.

If you are a holiday stress junky and would like to do it differently this year, consider taking on a new attitude and implementing new strategies to decrease stress:

      1. View the holidays as a time of connection, celebration and gratitude.

 

      1. Respect friends and family exactly as they are. Wishing people to be different than they are is a waste of precious vitality.

 

      1. Be willing to show up as a generous Blessing. Meet every situation by asking yourself, “How can I offer my love and support here?”

 

      1. Set personal boundaries to manage your energy.

 

      1. Simplify daily by releasing routine tasks to make space to manage the extra festivities.

 

      1. Make a budget and stick to it.

 

    1. Take extra downtime to regenerate your batteries on a daily basis.

It is my hope that the ease you create this holiday season will allow your heart and spirit to shine brightly.

Comments

  1. Lisa Paterson

    happy Thanksgiving to you and Doug. I am feeling very grateful for all that you and Doug have offered to me during the past years.

      • Victoria Allen

        Thank you, Lisa – Comment settings were to hold for review before publishing. I’ve resolved this on our end – have a wonderful week of gratitude!
        Blessings,
        Brooke
        Victoria’s Assistant

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