There is an old Chinese saying which reads, “May you live in interesting times”.
Turbulent times are interesting times because they carry with them opportunities for us to go deeper within ourselves to discover that which truly matters most. For many of us, especially with the economic uncertainty, the advent of the holiday season raises newfound anxieties and fears.
However, living in a state of anxiety is to live in a state of powerlessness which robs us of the will to celebrate our lives and the opportunity to create a meaningful holiday season. Focusing on what brings us happiness, peace, and a sense of calm releases tension from our bodies, relieves mental stress, and inspires us to acknowledge the things in our life which we are grateful.
This holiday season marks an opportunity to replenish and nurture ourselves and to cultivate hope and resilience no matter the outer circumstances.
BE MINDFUL
Being mindful gives us permission to take the time to view things as they are in the present moment. With mindfulness, we see the futility in regret and grant ourselves some relief from the guilt of things which we cannot alter. In mindfulness, especially during the holiday season, we can make conscious decisions instead of numbing ourselves with busyness, buying and excess which minimizes our ability to be attentive and responsible to our needs, our budgets and our schedules.
Worrying about the things which we can not change drains our energy. Choosing to focus on the things which we can influence enables us to empower ourselves and to manage turbulence in our lives responsively.
- Take 3 deep breaths each time you think of something which makes you feel anxious.
- Ask yourself what about that particular issue is causing you to feel the way you do.
- Ask yourself what you can do to generate a sense of calm to replace feelings of anxiety.
ORGANIZE YOUR THOUGHTS
Managing the holidays during turbulent times involves taking thoughtful steps to diligently help us to get to where we need to be. It moves us from reaction to responding to the situations in our lives. By taking the steps to be proactive, we begin to pull into our lives the things which we require and shift our energies from constantly pushing things away. We facilitate moving into a state of acceptance instead of a condition or rejection. Making this shift requires that we take steps in our lives to organize our thoughts and to strategize on achieving our goals.
- Write down a list of all the things which are currently causing you anxiety.
- Cross out all the listed items which are out of your control.
- Put a star next to the items on your list which you can influence.
- Next to those you’ve placed a star, list the names of at least 2 people who can assist you with that issue and/or action steps you can immediately take.
ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE
It is easier to take action once you have a plan. Managing during turbulent times particularly with the holiday season approaching, is about finding the power to affect positive change in our lives. It involves making decisions which are too important to leave unmade. Change is inevitable and a constant. What impacts us profoundly is how we manage through the processes of change which we experience. Active participation helps us to promote the positive attitude required to overcome adversity and to persevere through the natural course of the turbulence in our lives.
- Establish a schedule with daily, weekly and monthly goals.
- Review your list of things which you can influence and establish a schedule which includes daily, weekly and monthly goals that you can commit to doing.
- Ask for the help you need from the people who can assist you.
- Be willing to ask questions to help you grow through the process.
Managing the holidays during turbulent times allows us to practice our ability to accept the inevitable, influence what is possible, and to uncover lessons in gratitude along the way. When we choose to be active participants in managing the situations in our lives, we give ourselves the gift of strength, renew our inner confidence, realize our vision to create harmony in our lives and create memorable holiday moments that will last a lifetime. UHL
