Enjoying the Holiday Season

The holiday season is here again. How can we enjoy the holiday season even with it’s down side, such as the materialism and too much to do? It is helpful to remember the roots of each holiday and why the traditions began. Why not use this period of time to get in touch with deeper meaning and set an intention to grow in awareness, while at the same time enjoying the many opportunities for connecting to others and opening your heart.

In the US, Thanksgiving ushers in almost six weeks of celebrating and New Year’s Day completes it. Let’s begin with looking at the importance and real significance of Thanksgiving. At it’s best, it is a time of reflection, appreciation, and gratitude, which gives us the opportunity of raising our consciousness. What are you grateful for? What do you appreciate about yourself, your body, your life? What would it be like if you saw everything in your life as an opportunity for growth and awakening and found something good in each experience? Can you open your inner vision and practice spiritual truths while spending time with family and friends?

No matter your religious preference and practice, it is hard to miss the festive focus as many prepare for Christmas. All can benefit from the symbolism of the Christ story, the birth of higher consciousness in each of us.

For many this time of year is a time of over-doing and forgetting to enjoy the process. What are some important keys to getting the most out of this holiday time? Take a few moments and review the past couple of Decembers in your life, including family gatherings, parties or social situations, and religious services. Which experiences stand out as rewarding and worth repeating, and which bring memories you would rather forget and not repeat? Which of these rewarding memories have something to do with you and therefore, you have influence in again creating them? Which ones happened spontaneously? Let these memories remind you to be on the look out for unexpected joys.

Next, look at people and situations that have disappointed you; begin to realize where you need to let go of unrealistic expectations to stop setting yourself up by expecting what cannot be. For me, with grown children, I have to accept that my whole family cannot always be together at holiday dinners. I also have to accept that I am not in charge of the family gatherings and they are not always held at my house. This can feel like a loss, as I have lots of happy memories looking forward to all of us in the kitchen cooking, going to a candle light Christmas Eve church service together, or staying up talking at night. I remind myself to release focusing on what was and to appreciate the new experiences to get the most out of each. Of course it is a special treat when everyone does show up at my house for a holiday and we spend Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner together.

During the hustle and bustle of the season, we sometimes forget our good habits and need to stay on track practicing self-care and spiritual techniques that enrich our lives the rest of the year. I continue to exercise, cook and eat foods I like, meditate, and find time to connect one-on-one to each person that does show up for the holidays. If I find myself feeling out of sorts or disappointed, I have a talk with myself to get back on track. I remind myself to stay present to experience what shows up this year and to stay open to detours that enrich my life too.

The opportunity of New Year’s Day is to see what we learned in the past year and what our intentions are for the coming one. Consider writing yourself a letter about the things you want to experience and explore in the coming year. Read it to yourself next year and see how you did.

In summary, to experience more jolliness this holiday season remember to get in touch with the real meaning of each holiday, stay present to all your experiences, let go of hidden expectations and agendas, and notice spontaneous moments that spark unexpected joy. Tune into yourself often to practice self-care and know that the only thing you have control over in life is your inner-self. Your attitude colors all that happens to you. Consider reflecting each evening to recount the blessings and express your gratitude.