As we move ever deeper into the Holiday Season it can become easier for us experience an increased level of Stress in our lives. This is ironic because this is supposed to be a “Holly Jolly” time of year.

Cooperate with the inevitable



It is inevitable that starting in early December there are going to be lines everywhere, just accept this fact. Traffic tie ups, lines in the parking lots at the mall or in downtown waiting to park. Lines in the stores, clothing, specialty and grocery are inevitable. If we accept this we can be calmer and won’t feel so rushed. Also, there may be family members, friends or neighbors whom you’ll be spending time with who rub you the wrong way. They always do! Just cooperate with the fact you will be seeing them, it’s inevitable.



Except ingratitude



If we expect the cashier to be short, ungracious and not helpful - even though “it’s the season” for being kind and friendly - then it won’t have a negative impact on our attitude when they are. We are always the person in charge of our attitude, it really is our choice. We can choose to be positive and helpful but there may times we allows others attitude or action to impact ours. We all know the story, we’re in a good mood and someone says something inappropriate to us and we get bummed out. That’s our fault. We choose to allow their careless comment to impact us and our attitude. This is just like a cashier not greeting you in a friendly way, not offering a box for your items, they blurt out “sign here” followed by, “Next”. If we let that ungracious attitude ruin our day, shame on us. On the other hand if we expect ingratitude and the person helping us is up beat, friendly and very helpful, we have a fabulous experience.



Count your blessings – not your troubles



Because of the time of year we can get caught up in wanting the newest and latest gadget or jewelry or clothing – especially children. We may be operating this Christmas on a budget. We look at our neighbors and what they have or a family member or co-worker because they have more stuff than we have and we feel sorry for ourselves. We can easily forget what we have to be thankful for. How much would you give for your health? How much is your sight worth? Have you ever yelled at a child to be quiet? How much would you give to hear your child, your spouse or a friend say “I love You” just one more time if you couldn’t hear? We put a lot of stock in some things and not as much in the really important elements of our life. We live in the most prosperous country in the history of the world. We can work out just about any financial problem we run into yet we dwell on our troubles and don’t count our blessings. Tonight, go home and list out all of the reasons why you are truly blessed!



Create happiness for others



Feeling blue, in a funk? Do something for someone else and (like we suggested earlier don’t expect them to be grateful) just do it because you want to. This can be little things, offer to take a grocery cart back t the store for someone, hold the door open. Or possibly do something much bigger. There are food boxes that need volunteers to pack and deliver, there are giving trees in the mall, the police & fire association in just about every city has a toy drive. Maybe your neighbor’s yard still needs to be raked of leaves? If we become involved and helping others we soon forget about our problems. Like we say and do “the best way to be ourselves is to forget about ourselves.” Lets just throw ourselves into the activity we are involved and we will quickly forget our funk. The same principles holds true for helping others focus on them, forget about us, we’ll be glad we did. (It is the giving season).



Live in “day-tight compartments”



We have a million things on our list (ok, really not a million, it just seems like it) and four days to complete them and we stress. Live in day tight compartments, don’t worry about tomorrow. Some people (professional worriers) even live in “hour tight compartments.” This helps them stay focused on the task at hand and not be overwhelmed.



Give Honest Sincere Appreciation



Thank people and be genuine about it – hey they won’t expect it. William James said “The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” He didn’t speak of the wish, or desire to be appreciated. He said the “craving” to be appreciated. So make someone’s holiday season by giving honest and sincere appreciation.



The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.



If you have ever seen the movie, or the trailer of “Jingle all the Way” with Sinbad and Arnold Schwarzenegger they give the “wrong way” application for this principle. They each want a certain toy for their child and they argue and finally fight over it. In this movie it’s a comedy, in our life it may not be. Remember if you are going to be with people who push your buttons, don’t let them. If you have family or friends who like to bait you into argument try this line “well, you may be right, I’ll think about it and we can talk after the holidays.” For those people you just like verbal sparing this will drive them nuts. Also remember “is it more important to be right, or is it more important to get what you want?” Rarely will two people leave an argument happy, so to keep the holiday peace, avoid the argument.

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to you too. I appreciate what you said.