It's not all snowflakes and mistletoe for everyone. Instead, it can bring on feelings of overwhelm when there is a lack of money for gifts, or there are health concerns, or when a life changing event is happening during the holidays. Shopping, making time for family, or having to spend time with toxic family members, all have the potential to turn the kindest person into the Grinch!
So how can we gain control and get relief from the feelings of overwhelm?
You may not believe me, but the truth is that our feelings of overwhelm are not coming from our list of things to do, our low bank balance, the toxic family member or the daunting task of planning or attending family gatherings during the holidays. The feeling of overwhelm comes from the way we perceive
a situation. If we can recognize this simple truth about how the mind works, it is possible to reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed, in a relatively short amount of time… even during the holidays.
Let’s imagine your problem is that you don’t have the money to buy the things you would like to buy for your children for Christmas. You might be thinking; “I don’t want to disappoint my kids!”. When you think that thought,
your shoulders and neck tighten up and you feel a tension headache coming on. That thought, is followed by a vision of your kids waking up on Christmas morning, to find absolutely nothing under the Christmas tree (if there is a tree). In your mind, you see your children sobbing, distraught, and staring at you with disappointment and tears in their eyes. At this point, you have a tight feeling in your chest, there is a lump in your throat, and tears are beginning to fill
your eyes. You have worked yourself into a frenzy and it's only November 5th!
Life is constantly changing and humans are terrible at predicting the future. We imagine scary scenarios and then let our imaginations run away with us. The result is we cause ourselves to feel anxious and overwhelmed. Are you worrying about something that may or may not happen? If you believe in God,
prayer is an excellent way to find peace of mind and keep yourself in the present moment. Another way to find peace is to slow down, take a walk in nature, get a massage, or spend time working on a hobby that you enjoy.
Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to curb your overwhelm in any situation this holiday season:
- Which aspect of the situation is not under your
control?
- What or who do you need to let go of?
- What do you need to accept or do to bring peace to yourself?
- Is there any aspect of this situation that is under your control?
- What is that?
- What are your options?
- What is the first step?
- When will you put your plan into action?
Simplify the way you celebrate the holiday season and give yourself the gift of peace of
mind this holiday season.
Side Note: If you are struggling with a situation that causes you to feel anxious about the upcoming holidays, I invite you to send a private email to me. I would love to support you in your search for peace of mind.
Wishing You a Happy and Blessed Holiday Season,
