Make Peace Your Mantra This Holiday Season  

As the holiday season draws near, so does the chaos and overwhelm that many women feel during this time of year.  

Shopping, wrapping, baking, cleaning, socializing…the list at times seems endless.  Often, we start the New Year mentally, physically and not to mention, financially drained.  

So how do we ensure that this holiday season is different; that the real meaning of spirit, love and joy shines through?    

Well, there are many practical ways such as shopping early, reducing demands, and setting limits on spending.  There are also things you can do like setting realistic expectations, throwing Superwoman and Martha Stewart out the window, eat healthy, get your rest and participate in some physical activity when you can. Every magazine on the rack is full of tips just like these this time of year.  

What’s funny is even if we do all these things, it doesn’t guarantee that we feel and experience the real meaning of the season.   So then what does it take?  

Creating and experiencing peace.  Simple yet complicated.  How do you create peace during the most hectic and overwhelming time of the year?  You set an intention and a desire to experience more peace this holiday season.  That’s the simple part.  Then, you choose peace no matter what the situation or circumstance is.  That’s the complicated
part.  

Will this work every time?  Not likely.  Why?  Because for many it is more natural to choose chaos over peace. You will, however, be amazed that when you deliberately focus on feeling peace, it gradually starts to occur.    

The first step is becoming more aware of your thoughts and emotions.  Learn to tune in to how you feel, then when stress, frustration and overwhelm creeps in, intentionally choose peace.  

Ways to help you intentionally choose peace can be for example, creating a mantra you say to yourself during a stressful moment.  It can be as simple as repeating to yourself “I choose peace.” You can have a visual reminder in your house that you see often.  For instance, this week I bought a large, beautiful white wooden set of letters at The Potting Shed, spelling PEACE.  I placed them on my window sill above my sink and every time I see them I am reminded of the power I have to choose peace no matter what I am feeling.  Another way might be to deep breathe and imagine that with each inhale you are breathing in peace and with each exhale you are breathing out stress, tension and anxiety.  

The act of being grateful is also a direct link to feelings of peace.  Throughout your day make a conscious effort to take note of things you have to be grateful for.  Do it especially at the times when you are feeling overwhelmed and frustrated.  There is nothing like gratitude to diffuse a meltdown moment.  

The trick is being more conscious of our thoughts, our day and our life.  We go through most of it unconsciously.  We react instead of respond to our circumstances.   We settle for less instead of choosing more.  We allow our selves to be a victim to our circumstances instead of an advocate for our dreams and desires.  

bq. This holiday season when you are caught up in the hustle and bustle, remember it is not the hustle and bustle that robs us of peace and joy of Christmas.  It is the choice we make to allow the hustle and bustle to rob us of peace and joy.

So as Christmas approaches and the magic of the season is upon us, may you make the choice to instill peace in your heart and your home.  That is my Christmas wish for you.  

Peggy Porter is a contributing writer for Fabulously40. Balance Coaching and Speaking allows Peggy to inspire many women towards stepping out of their comfort zone to create the life they are longing to live. Visit www.seekingbalance.ca or www.frombrieftothong.com and sign up for Peggy’s FR*EE newsletter and FR*EE Report-5 Simple Secrets to Living a Joy-Filled Life. Email Peggy at peggy@seekingbalance.ca to find out more about her 45 minute Success Session and how you can launch your own success plan today!

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