Creating Your Holiday Plan

The mark of a successful man is one that has spent an entire day on the bank of a river without feeling guilty about it. -Chinese Philosopher

This past month was packed for my family: Chris turned 41, Drew turned 16, there was a surprise 40th birthday party thrown in for me, my computer died, my little sister’s wedding and Thanksgiving. It was magical, exhausting, beautiful, overwhelming, heart stretching, ego clenching, karma releasing, old conditioning surfacing. November was a not so subtle reminder that we can all get carried away with busyness syndrome.

During a time when most animals hibernate, we are expected to hit the floor running, put on a happy face, attend 7,000 holiday parties, find the perfect gifts, forget quality time, and do it better than the year before. I have already been subjected to the Chipmunks Christmas singing and it’s not even December 1st. Yoga philosophy reminds us that life is about connecting. The hustle and bustle of the holidays is a much better recipe for disconnect and suffering. What if there was a way to honor the magic and compassion of the holiday season and maintain a sense of balance, equanimity, in the midst of it all? Are you sitting down? Really. Sit down.  No I’m just kidding. I was just saying that for dramatic effects. There is. (Do you even remember what we were talking about?)

Creating your holiday plan:

• Visualize:  possibly weekly, what you would like your holidays to look like. Are they filled with family and friends? If you want your holidays to be quiet and relaxing how much downtime are you giving yourself and your kids?
• Set an intention: What is it that you want for the holidays? Connection, grace, love, peace? Setting an intention helps us stay focused when the busyness and details become overwhelming.
• What do you most need to remember?: Holidays can be a huge trigger. Write down on your planner what you most need to remember. You are enough, you are loved, you are doing your best, let the rest go, this too shall pass ~ create your own mantra
• Take time outs: Schedule in downtime on your planner. Do you need 30 minutes a week? 10 minutes per day? Add that to your calendar.

Creating a holiday plan helps put everything into perspective and helps us remember the true meaning of the holidays….connecting to Source, to ourselves, to each other.

Need more planning, stress free ideas & ways to re-charge for the holidays? I’ve made a list, check it twice, find out which ones call to you and which ones seem nice… (oh the cheesiness is just beginning.)

• My friend Tina, over at Open Roads Coaching has a great download: Over The River & Through the Woods, a  30 page workbook to get through the holidays with an open heart, peace, love, & joy to all
• Sara of Soul Spackle, LOVE LOVE LOVE her:) is offering a 31 days of Soul Medicine & it’s FREE! Sign up here…It begins December 1st.
• Crafting The Sacred, home to my dear friend Jo, has several e-books including one on happiness, sacred affirmations, and chakra blessings ~wonderful reminders during the holiday season. Check those out here: pocketful series.
• I have such wonderfully talented friends. Petrea is offering a dream dialogue e-course beginning December 10th over at Drawing Self Out, here. Sounds wonderful!

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• The Fill Your Cup Mantra
• Soul Lesson 7: It Is Okay To Say No