This time of the year has the potential to be such a joyful time with family, friends, loved ones, holidays, presents and yummy food. It can be an enriching experience where we come together and share and care and express our love for each other. It can also be a most rewarding time when we tune into the sacredness of this time, review our past year, take stock and prepare for the new year ahead so that we can begin the new year in pole position.

During this busy period, we can tend to get lost in the mainstream Christmas experience, where we travel more, eat more, drink more and buy more than any other occasion of the year, and the demands we place upon ourselves can lead to a stressful state of being, where we don’t get to enjoy ourselves as much as we possibly could. Where we perhaps amass credit card debt that can cause much anxiety in February when reality sinks in (presents fade away but the time we spend with our loved ones is what we remember most). Holiday stress has become as much a tradition as the Christmas turkey as we become victims to the season’s high expectations. This also means a bigger impact on our health and wellbeing more than any other time of the year.

Before the festive season kicks in it can be helpful to review what works for you and what doesn’t, discerning what activities you choose to engage in so you aren’t running from pillar to post trying to live up to the season’s tall orders. Helping you to let go of the outworn traditions that no longer fit into your present life, learning how to say no to all the ‘shoulds’ and ‘must dos’ and unnecessary demands, including party invitations that don’t feel like the highest choice of love and a gift list that could clean out a shopping mall. When we do things out of obligation it dims the connection with our inner self. When our actions spring forth out of gratitude it feeds and strengthens the connection with our inner self and our ability to love.

The key to this review process is to embrace the new, decide what matters most to you and plan how you spend your time, not just doing something because that’s the way it’s always been. Remembering that it’s a time for gratitude and giving, but not from trying to please others, or because we feel that we should, rather choosing wisely and discerning from our heart’s knowing how we spend our time and energy.

Reflect on what you most cherish, whether it is to send Christmas cards, seeing family, friends and loved ones, giving back by perhaps working with a charitable organisation to help others to enjoy the festive season, or taking time to nurture your spiritual growth. Say no to expectations and demands which have past their use by date, and choose instead to embrace this time in a new way that creates more love and harmony both within and without.

Life Coaching and mentoring can assist you with this review process both before, during and after. So if you feel to get some support and guidance during this time (or any other time too) please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.