Navigating the holiday season with ease - really?

I know it's not just me - seemingly overnight, Christmas merchandise replaced Halloween candy, Christmas movies are showing up on the streaming platforms, and our calendars rapidly filling with holiday gatherings.  In the same moment our heartstrings are being tugged, we're bracing ourselves for the onslaught that's ahead.

You might be looking forward to spending time with people you love, to the foods and traditions that you associate with this time of year. And perhaps feeling slightly guilty about the fact that there are parts of it you may be dreading.

You are not alone.

We say yes to an event a month or two in advance, then the night before wonder why on earth we agreed to it.

We want to buy a meaningful gift for someone special, and are at the same time disgusted with the message of more money spent = more love. And if that wasn't bad enough, perhaps judging ourselves for not having the money to spend.

We put pressure on ourselves for things to be a certain way, because other people expect it, and we don't want to let them down - and then feel resentful about it. Then ashamed to feel that way.

Does any of this sound familiar?

A client of mine was recently expressing some feelings of overwhelm around the busy-ness of life and the even busier-ness of the lead-up to Christmas and Hanukkah.

She's brilliant, and chose to use our session as an opportunity to check in with her values and create a filter she can use for how she plans the way she celebrates the holidays with family, friends, and broader circles of acquaintanceship.

Here are some of the questions she reflected on:
What is meaningful to you in the holiday season?
What are the values that you honour when you're celebrating holidays in the way that feels perfect to you?

Take a few minutes. Sip your coffee (or tea). List your values.

Now, look over your list.
Which 2-3 values are most important to you?
How do you want to check in with them as you make plans for the coming weeks?
How do you want to communicate with others around your values as you plan?

Here's to balancing joy and peace this holiday season in a way that feels good to you!!!