'Tis the season

I'm keeping today's post short and sweet as I recover from a really bad something. I tested negative for Covid, so it could be the flu or it could be another virus that has apparently been attacking people's respiratory systems and keeping them company for weeks on end. On Thursday night, the persistent and extremely irritating cold and cough I'd been experiencing for six weeks took a turn for the worse, and I spent a couple of days in bed with a fever, feeling like I was never going to be able to take full breaths again. I'm doing a bit better now, but I have no voice, still dealing with a bad cold, a sore throat, sinus congestion, and my body aches everywhere! Anyway, I'm being taken good care of, so enough with my misery 🙂

Christmas is just a week away, and while it can be a time of great joy, I know it can also cause stress and anxiety. For some people, it may even bring up loneliness, sadness, or other very uncomfortable emotions. In my case, because of my eating disorders, for many years it was obviously a time of immense strain, given all the emphasis placed on food. But even for people who have good memories associated with this time of the year, it can be easy to get swept up in things and feel like there are just too many things to do—between the gifts, the cooking, the social events, other people's expectations, etc.

So, I wanted to pop into your inbox to ask you, how do you want to feel this holiday season? I mean it—sit down, close your eyes, and visualize how you'd like your Christmas to go. Then do some reverse engineering and think about what actions you need to take for the holidays to be a source of pleasure and not an added burden or cause for worry. You might decide to prioritize certain things and say no to others, realize you need to enforce some boundaries, schedule some time for self-care, reach out to someone you'd like to spend some time with, and so on. Take pen to paper and write down: a) a few words for how you want to feel; b) a few reminders re: the actions that will get you there.

I'm very aware now of what I need to feel secure throughout the holidays, so I've planned accordingly, allowing me to focus on enjoying quality time with my loved ones. I want to feel secure, relaxed, joyful, freed from past memories and fears, open to new possibilities, and loving. I feel okay about saying no to things that could threaten my well-being, and I have some tricks in my toolbox I can use if I get overwhelmed.

Now I'd love to hear what your plans for the holidays are and how they make you feel. Is there anything you might need to tweak in order to enjoy yourself more and take better care of yourself? What adjectives best describe how you want to feel this Christmas? As always, you can email me or call me to chat about this and other issues related to personal development, self-care, and life in general. I'd also welcome any insights and observations in the comment section. Don't forget to share with someone who might be interested, and have a great week.