Category Archives: self help

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Managing Holiday Anxiety: 10 Tips Staying Calm and Enjoying The Season…

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7

The holiday season, often associated with joy and celebration, can also bring about stress and anxiety for many individuals. With the hustle and bustle of shopping, social gatherings, and expectations, it’s common to feel overwhelmed. However, it’s important to take proactive steps to manage and minimize holiday anxiety to ensure a more enjoyable and peaceful season.

  1. Acknowledge Your Feelings:

Acknowledge that it’s okay to feel anxious or stressed during this time. The pressure to create perfect moments or meet unrealistic expectations can add to these feelings. Recognizing and accepting these emotions is the first step in addressing them.

  1. Set Realistic Expectations:

Avoid setting overly high expectations for yourself, others or the holidays. Understand that perfection is unattainable, and it’s okay if everything doesn’t go exactly as planned. Embrace imperfections and focus on the joy of the moment rather than aiming for flawless celebrations.

  1. Plan and Prioritize:

Create a manageable plan for the holiday season. List the tasks that need to be accomplished and prioritize them based on importance. Breaking down tasks into smaller, achievable steps can help prevent feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the season.

  1. Practice Self-Care:

Amidst the chaos, prioritize self-care. Ensure you get enough sleep, maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, read spiritual literature and practice relaxation techniques such as prayer, meditation or deep breathing. Taking care of your spiritual, physical and mental well-being can significantly reduce feelings of anxiety.

  1. Set Boundaries:

Learn to say ‘no’ when necessary. It’s okay to decline invitations or requests that may add unnecessary stress to your life. Setting boundaries protects your mental and emotional health, allowing you to enjoy the holidays more fully.

  1. Focus on Meaningful Moments:

Redirect your focus from material aspects to meaningful experiences. Spend quality time with loved ones, engage in activities that bring joy, and participate in volunteering or acts of kindness. Connecting with others and giving back can add a deeper sense of fulfillment during the holidays.

  1. Budget Wisely:

Financial stress is a common trigger during the holidays. Set a realistic budget and stick to it. Consider alternatives to expensive gifts, such as homemade presents or organizing gift exchanges to reduce financial strain. Remember, it’s the thought that counts!

  1. Seek Support:

Don’t hesitate to seek support from friends, family, or a professional if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes sharing your feelings or seeking guidance can provide valuable perspective and alleviate anxiety. Every now and then, everyone needs to unload their truck!

  1. Reflect and Appreciate:

Take time to reflect on the positives of the holiday season. Practice gratitude for the moments, experiences, and people in your life. Gratitude can shift your focus from stressors to appreciation, fostering a more positive mindset.

  1. Enjoy Yourself!

In conclusion, while holiday anxiety is common, it’s possible to manage it effectively by setting realistic expectations, prioritizing self-care, focusing on meaningful moments, and seeking support when needed. By incorporating these strategies, you can navigate the holiday season with greater calmness, allowing yourself to truly enjoy the festive spirit and the real reason for the season.

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Embracing Joy: Ten Steps To Make The Most Of The Month Of December…

The end of the year is almost here, but before the clock strikes midnight and a new year begins, we still have 31 incredible days to enjoy this amazing gift called life that we have been blessed with. December, the culminating month of the year, arrives again this year with a special charm—a time when the air is filled with the scent of festivities, our minds with reflection, and our hearts with anticipation. As the year draws to a close, it brings a multitude of opportunities to embrace the joy, spread warmth, and prepare for a fresh new beginning. Here are 8 Steps we can take to make the most of this remarkable month:

1. Embrace Festivities: December marks the pinnacle of celebration and our spirit needs some good celbration, laughter and fun . Dive into the festivities, whether it’s lighting up the menorah for Hanukkah, decorating the Christmas tree, or preparing for Kwanzaa. Engage in the celebrations of your culture as you partake in the traditional rituals, and revel in the joy of just simply being together with those you love.

2. Reflect and Reconnect: Amidst the hustle and bustle, make sure that you carve out moments for introspection. Look on the inside of yourself by reflecting on the past months, acknowledge your achievements, and contemplating areas where you need to grow. Make time to reconnect with loved ones by taking the time for gatherings, the sharing of stories, and the opportunity to relive cherished memories. December offers a perfect backdrop to nourish our connections with those that we really care about.

3. Spread Kindness: The real essence of December lies in giving. Extend acts of kindness to those around you. Volunteer your time, donate to charities, or simply lend a helping hand to someone in need. A small gesture can create an immense impact and bring warmth to someone’s heart and blessings to all around.

4. Savor the Seasonal Delights: Indulge in the flavors and aromas unique to December. Treat yourself to hot cocoa by the fireplace, relish gingerbread cookies, or try the diverse array of traditional holiday dishes. Allow your senses to revel in the culinary delights this month brings. Actually take time to enjoy the tastes of the holiday season.

5. Set Intentions for the New Year: December serves as a bridge between the old and the new. Take this time to set intentions for the upcoming year. Outline your goals, aspirations, and resolutions. Visualize the path ahead and lay the groundwork for a promising start to the new chapter. I like to think of a word that will be my word for the new year. My new year word for 2023 was FAITH and my new year word for 2024 is INFLUENCE.

6. Appreciate Nature’s Beauty: Depending on your location, December either blankets the world in snow or paints it with blossoms. Embrace the beauty of nature—go for a winter walk, admire the twinkling lights, or take in the vibrant colors of blooming flowers in the Southern Hemisphere. Connect with the natural world around you. It really is the most wonderful time of the year!

7. Practice Gratitude: Cultivate a mindset of gratitude. Acknowledge the blessings, big or small, that have enriched your life throughout the year. Keep a gratitude journal, expressing thankfulness for moments, experiences, and the presence of those who’ve made a difference in your life. I like to write down at least three things that I am thankful for everyday.

8. Pay Attention To The Spiritual: Our lives are physical, mental and spiritual. Be sure to focus on and work on the spiritual part of your life by taking time to think about the greatest gift ever give and how that gift makes your life worth living.

9. Create Lasting Traditions: Establishing traditions adds depth and meaning to the holiday season. Whether it’s baking together with family, hosting a themed gathering, or watching classic movies, these rituals foster a sense of belonging and create timeless memories. We take and make time for what really matters to us.

10. Enjoy Yourself! As December unfolds its charm, make sure that you seize the opportunity to immerse yourself in its magic. Let it be a time of joy, reflection, and preparation for the exciting prospects ahead. Embrace the festive cheer, cherish your loved ones, and welcome the new year with open arms.

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Ten Action Steps To Deal With Heavy Heartedness!

Life is a journey that is filled with moments of joy, triumph, and love, but it can also bring about periods of sadness, grief, and emotional heaviness. When your heart feels burdened, it’s essential to acknowledge those feelings and take proactive steps towards healing and finding the lightness you were created for. In the following pragraphs, we will explore some very practical steps we can take to help ourselves to navigate through the difficult and heavy times of life.

1. ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR EMOTIONS!

The first step towards lightening a heavy heart is recognizing and accepting your emotions. It’s normal to feel sadness, grief, or even anger at times. By acknowledging these feelings, you validate your own experiences and open the door to healing. You have to know the feeling to know why the feeling is there and with this knowledge you will find wisdom in dealing with whatever it is that you have to deal with.

2. PRACTICE SELF COMPASSION!

Be kind to yourself. Treat yourself with the same care and understanding you would offer a close friend. Self-compassion involves acknowledging your pain without judgment and offering yourself support and comfort. We tend to beat up on ourselves and often become our very own worst enemy. Show yourself some love, mercy and grace.

3. SEEK SUPPORT!

Share your feelings with someone you trust, whether it’s a friend, family member, or therapist. Talking about your emotions can provide relief and a fresh perspective. Sometimes, merely expressing what’s on your mind can alleviate some of the heaviness. I have often told folks that I am counseling or coaching that it is important every now and then to “unload the truck”. You were not created to carry everything around with you for always, so unload what you need to, so you can load up with what you really need.

4. ENGAGE IN MINDFUL MEDITATION!

Mindfulness practices, such as meditation, can help you stay present in the moment and reduce stress. Taking time for mindfulness can create a sense of calm, allowing you to process your emotions in a healthier way. I like to refer to this as taking time for SOLITUDE. We need to get quiet, just breathe and learn to enjoy the stillness and silence.

5. EXERCISE AND MOVE YOUR BODY!

Exercise has a profound impact on mental well-being. Engaging in physical activities like walking, jogging, or yoga releases endorphins, which are known as “feel-good” hormones. These chemicals can help alleviate feelings of sadness and promote a sense of well-being. It does not have to be anything hard core, just get up and take a walk outside or take some time to stretch your body out like you used to when you were a kid reaching for the stars.

6. EXPRESS YOURSELF CREATIVELY!

Art, music, and writing can be powerful outlets for processing emotions. Engaging in creative expression allows you to channel your feelings into something tangible, providing a sense of release and relief. God has gifted all of His children with some form of self expression, figure out yours and use it regurlarly.

7. PRACTICE GRATITUDE!

Even during challenging times, there are often small moments of beauty and positivity. Cultivating gratitude by acknowledging and appreciating these moments can shift your perspective and help you find moments of lightness. We often get so distracted by the bad that we fail to appreciate the good. No matter how bad it gets, there is always good. Look for and say thank you for the good, because this redirects your spirit toward God, which is exactly where it needs to be.

8. SET REALISTIC GOALS!

Breaking down your challenges into manageable steps can make them feel less overwhelming. Setting realistic goals and celebrating small achievements can give you a sense of accomplishment and motivation. Figure out what you have to do, make a plan and then do what you can.

9. NURTURE YOUR WELL BEING!

Taking care of your body can have a positive impact on your emotional well-being. Ensure you get enough sleep, eat nourishing foods, and engage in activities that promote relaxation and rejuvenation. Self Care is not a bad thing, it is a necessary thing and if you don’t take care of you, there might not be a you to take care of others.

10. EMBRACE CHANGE AND GROWTH!

Remember that feelings of heaviness are part of the human experience, and they do not define you. In other words: It’s a normal part of life and living. Embracing change and seeking growth through adversity can lead to profound personal development. Do what you can about what you can and then trust God through the rest for His best.

When your heart feels heavy, it’s crucial to remember that you are not alone, and there are ways to find lightness and healing. By acknowledging your emotions, seeking support, and engaging in self-care practices, you can navigate through these difficult moments and emerge stronger and more resilient than ever. Remember, healing is a journey, and it’s okay to take it one step at a time, because your ultimate destination is blessing…