Creating the Perfect Christmas

At this time of year, our minds turn to the festive season and the ceremonies, rituals and traditions that surround those occasions.  And then, if you’re like most people, your heart starts to race a little.

There are gifts to buy and wrap, special dishes to buy and make, decorations to find and put up, family to invite or negotiate with (or just endure), parties to host and attend and look gorgeous for.  And it all needs to be perfect, right?  Before you know it, the budget is stretched, the calendar is full and you’re feeling stressed and decidedly un-festive by it all.

Is that what you had in mind?  Does that fit with your goals?  Is that how you want to remember this Christmas?  No???

Right here and now is the ideal time to take out a piece of paper and write down 3 words or phrases that reflect your ideal festive season.  Now go and put that piece of paper in a prominent place, like the fridge door, for all to see.  You are making a declaration to your family, to the world, but mostly to yourself.

Now when you find yourself adding a task to your to do list, refer to that declaration and ask

“Does this task I’m adding create my ideal Christmas,

or detract from it?”

Practicing this thinking now will give you a head start for the New Year.

 

This article was originally published in 2009 at The Calm Space.