With the holiday in full swing, I thought I would address how to maintain balance and abundance while interacting with people who may not see the world the way we do.
What strikes me as I talk to people about their holiday plans is the presence or absence of joy depending on the people who will be gathering. Are we going to be with ourtribe, or will we be gathering with people out of duty and obligation? The holidays are classic times when our internal chatter can reach maximum volume. Do we respond out of duty and obligation, or do we respond from the wellspring of our hearts with what brings us joy? If we cannot avoid people who trigger us, what can we do to set our boundaries firmly so that we do not feel neglected, abused or taken advantage of?
Here are my top ten tips for surviving and thriving during the holidays with grace and ease:
Just say NO: Prioritize the business and social events you have on your calendar, making sure you leave time to recharge and refresh yourself
Plan ahead for how long you will stay at each event. When we have boundaries set ahead of time, it is easier to hang in there when tensions run high.
Give yourself a timeout. If you find yourself being triggered by someone, give yourself permission to excuse yourself. You can say,I’m not able to express myself in the way I’d like, so I’m going to excuse myself now.
Be gentle with yourself. Don’t expect perfection when you’re in a family dynamic. These dynamics have likely been in place for decades, if not centuries!
Remember that you are not responsible for the behaviors and actions of other people. You are only responsible for what you say and do, and how or whether you choose to react to what others say and do.
Be impeccable with your word. One of the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, being impeccable with your word means to breathe and think before you speak. Ask yourself,do I really mean this now, and am I willing to follow through with what I am about to say? Is it necessary, and can I say it kindly?
HYDRATE. The air is much drier in the winter, and we generally eat more sugar than normal. Becoming dehydrated is step one toward getting sick, so hydrate to stay healthy.
Choose your sugar wisely. Choose quality over quantity, decide in advance how much of it you want to eat, and stick to it. An overabundance of sugar, which turns to yeast in the body, is step two toward getting sick, so choose wisely.
Simplify. Cut down on the number of gifts you give by asking family and friends to engage in a holiday grab instead of buying for everyone. For families with children, consider buying one gift the children can share, like a gift basket for movie night at home.
Give back. Spend some time this holiday season serving food at a soup kitchen, collecting toys for disadvantaged children, or visiting the elderly in nursing homes. These are just three suggestions for giving that will help you tap into gratitude at warp speed. And gratitude is the magic elixir, the balm that soothes a weary soul, during the holidays and all year round. It helps us plug back into joy and abundance, no matter how hectic the world around us appears.
Johanna Lyman is an Abundance Coach, Channel for Divine Love and Wisdom, and an Intuitive Healer. She is the author of the Messenger Mini Book, Attracting Abundance: Four Powerful Practices to Align Your Life With Your Life’s Purpose. She can be reached at Johanna@johannalyman.com or 774-262-4211. www.johannalyman.com
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