(AKA How Not to Murder your Family This Xmas!)
There is a tremendous quote from American spiritual teacher Ram Dass that I thought would be particularly pertinent as we hurtle towards the festive season: “If you think you’re enlightened, go spend a week with your family”. Nothing, bar nothing in this world (with the possible exception of the current incumbent of The White House) pushes everyone’s buttons so thoroughly and consistently as family, however much we love them. Here are my top tips so you can spend Christmas kicking back with a cold one on the beach not hiding in the walk-in wardrobe from your extended whanau drinking gin through a straw.
- You can change the dynamic
If the way things usually roll out drives you crazy, you don’t have to accept the status quo: shocking news I know, but true. It only takes one person to change in a dynamic for all sorts of subtle shifts to occur. If you are sick of the sniping and bitching, the next time your brother comes to you to moan about the way your sister is organising the beach cricket, don’t get into it: ask him to address it with your sister directly. If you are sick of being the one that does all the buying of the food, email round a list of bring a plate responsibilities ten days before. I’m not saying people will like it, but I am saying you can shift the dynamic by making deliberate shifts yourself.
- The only thing you “have to do” is breathe. Everything else is a choice.
Christmas is not only the time of good tidings towards all men, but can also be an absolute obligation fest filled with “have to’s” and “should’s” of varying shapes and sizes. Nothing creates overwhelm and burn-out like an obligation fest: so if the pressure is rising, I’d like for you to step deliberately back into your personal power and remember that the only thing you HAVE to do is breathe, everything (truly, everything!) else is a choice.
Driving on the roads at the same time that everyone else is, is a choice.
Doing 19 different side dishes because everyone must have their favourite because it’s Christmas is a choice.
Choosing to write a Christmas card to everyone you have ever met since you were at school as you don’t want to be rude is a choice.
So, choose well.
The reality is, you have a finite amount of time, energy and attention: make powerful choices about where those finite resources get spent. “I have to” is disempowered, “I choose to” or “I choose not to”; that’s owning your right to decide where your most precious resources go. There is no apology required for using discernment and saying no. Reaching Christmas Eve a frazzled mess serves no one!
Your Christmas: your choices, so no guilt needed for opting out of excessive obligations.
Choose decisively and well.
One of the best Christmas gifts on offer to those you love is being energised and present and full of mojo and sparkle!
To celebrate the 3rd birthday of my Life Coaching Academy ~Wellbeing Warriors~
– and to thank you for reading my posts this year and for all the amazing emails
and messages you have sent me –
I have a special present for you all.
I have one scholarship to my online life coaching programme ~Wellbeing Warriors~
to gift to you lovely readers this festive season!
To enter, just hop over to www.louisethompson.com/winascholarship and take 30 seconds
to enter to be in to win a year of your best wellbeing with support from me!
One lucky winner will be drawn on the 21st December 2018 and advised by email.
