Quips and Tips for Spiritual Seekers

It takes a positive attitude to survive the Christmas holidays and come out unscathed. Parties, decadent tasty treats, giving and receiving gifts – all sounds wonderful doesn’t it?  Yet this festive holiday season can be one of the most stressful times of the year for many.

Being overwhelmed and frazzled tend to upstage feelings of love and gratitude.  It’s no wonder when so much time is spent rushing from store to store, waiting in long lineups, attending obligatory social events, and trying to squeeze in visits with as many friends and family as possible during a short period of time. Yet, it is possible to survive Christmas holiday stress with a positive attitude. As Hans Selye wrote, “Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.

Even if you don’t involve yourself in the holiday celebrations it’s hard not to get caught up in the bustle of busy energy surrounding you. It would be wonderful to escape to a tropical paradise and leave this all behind.  But for those of you partaking in these yearly festivities, and those caught in the quake of it, there are gentler ways to handle the challenges while fully enjoying the benefits of this time of year. And for those of you interested in delving deeper into shifting stress patterns, read my book, From Chaos to Calm: How to Shift Unhealthy Stress Patterns and Create Your Ideal Balance in Life, filled with experiential exercises. But carry on below for tips on how to stay positive during this time of year. 

Survive Christmas Holiday Stress with a Positive Attitude

Try playing with these positive attitudes as a way to reduce stress this holiday season.

Practice Acceptance. Instead of balking at holiday rituals or grimacing in the presence of your least favorite relative, try accepting the situation or person as they are and notice how your mood improves. Acceptance is simply acknowledging what is instead of resisting reality. It moves you out of judgment and into a place of peace and calm.

Be Delighted. Finding enchantment, joy and amusement in everyday things reduces stress and uplifts even the sourest of moods.  Take delight in a star lit night, the first snow flakes falling, a crackling fire on a rainy night, or a child’s smile. This will bring you into the present moment where everything is peaceful and joyful.

Find Forgiveness. Getting together with family and relatives during the holidays can trigger painful memories of old family wounds for many. This is the perfect opportunity to open your heart by finding forgiveness. Forgiveness isn’t about condoning behavior; it’s about releasing pain and freeing yourself to move from the past into the present.

Ignite Creativity: Imagination and spontaneity are wonderful antidotes to stress and overwhelm.  Get your creative juices flowing through decorating, singing, preparing a unique meal, or doing anything fun and playful.

Be compassionate. This time of year can be difficult for those without family and friends, those living on the streets, or those experiencing loss or financial hardship. With compassion, we step beyond our own pain and frustration and connect to the rest of the world. We gain a broader perspective on life and realize we are better off than we thought.

Shift Perspectives. If you tend to white knuckle the steering wheel during traffic or grumble and complain in store line-ups, try looking at these situations differently. Use the traffic jam as a time to listen to your favorite radio station or CD, strike up a conversation with the person in front of or behind you in a line-up as a way to pass the time. Whenever you find yourself reacting in anger, frustration or hopelessness, shift your perspective and look for new opportunities.

Be Grateful. The easiest way to reduce stress is with gratitude. Touching into appreciation for the people and pets you love, the material things you have in your life, and the small and large blessings that cross your path on a daily basis will uplift your heart and soul.

You can learn to thrive instead of just survive the holiday season by implementing these positive attitudes into your life.  And for more tips, read Laurie’s article, 10 Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress at Christmas. You have the power to create your own experience so enjoy!

If you have any questions or ideas for surviving Christmas holiday stress, please comment below.