Spend less love more. Isn't that a great holiday idea? Instead of putting people on your shopping list, add their names to your love list.
Each day of the season is a new opportunity to celebrate.
Read on to prepare yourself for all the joy, happiness and merry you can handle.
Communicate your love. Speak lovingly of your friends, family, and coworkers. If you can't say something positive about our community and world leaders, don't say anything at all. Offer a prayer or a blessing instead. Write a love letter to the people you love and hand deliver them if possible.
Be prepared. People will bug you. They will say and do things you won't like. Stay calm. Center yourself. Love and accept them anyway. That's the real reason you are together.
Lower your expectations. Accept and meet people where they are at. See beyond their imperfections. Difficult people need the most love and often get the least. Hold a vision of peace, joy, and happiness for everyone. Be kind to those who are unkind.
Check your ego at the door. Resist the temptation to think you are better than others because of the clothes you wear, the things you own, and the money in your bank account. Everyone wants to be validated, loved, and appreciated. We all want the best for ourselves and our loved ones. Make others feel special.
Give yourself permission to shine. Don't dim your light for others. Show others how loving you can be. Reach out. Offer your assistance. Go the extra mile. Be the change you wish to see in others.
Take a time out. Excuse yourself from stressful situations. Don't get involved in conflict. Change the subject or leave the room. Go for a brisk walk.
Genuinely listen to others.
Everyone wants to feel important. We all want to be heard. Be the last person to speak and the first person to listen when you are at holiday gatherings. Become one with the speaker. Allow them into your heart.
Be the love you wish to receive. Practice what you preach. Be your spiritually mature self. Release your feelings of envy, jealousy, and being unfairly treated in your journal. Allow peace, joy, and contentment to replace them.
Bless everyone. Take a moment and silently gaze at everyone around the table and be sincerely grateful. If each person had a message for you what would it be? Everyone is in your life for a reason. They are there to teach you how to love unconditionally. They will mirror both your positive and negative traits. The ones you might not see in yourself. Silently say, "Thank you."
Be merry. Be bright. Shine on!
Please share any thoughts that you have on how to make the holiday season merry and bright!
Do me a favor and nominate The Bold Life for the "Best Personal Development Blog of 2011." Leave in the comment box that your vote is for The Bold Life. Thank you in advance for sharing in my joy!
Jen from Find Your Harmony is the winner of the book Uncertainty by Jonathan Fields.
My friend Anastasiya, the founder of Balance In Me is giving away a free ebook today. Click here to visit Balance In Me and get Top 100 Ways to Make Your Life More Balanced.
Image by Chris Sharp
Hi Tess,
Wonderful list to get us ready for the holidays as well as life in general. We all can get caught up in the things of the holiday rather than the people. Great reminder to refocus and make the season more joyful! Thanks for sharing.