Dear Friends
It’s that time of the year! The Christmas cards say we must be jolly and peace-filled and joyful and giving. But in our real world, whether you are having a huge family gathering, or a quiet stay at home lunch for two, and whether you celebrate at all, Christmas time seems to bring with it a whole array of emotions and stresses that don’t seem to be as intense at any other time of the year.
My brother has already celebrated Christmas in Brisbane, Australia – twenty four hours ahead of us here in Johannesburg. He and his wife celebrated the German way, on Christmas Eve. He’s half way through it. But they both have no family there, only friends to celebrate with. Maybe that’s less stressful, but tinged with more nostalgia as they have their second Christmas with there little son of 18 months, and are expecting their second child.
It’s for our children that we stretch ourselves to make it a happy, joyful time. It’s to see their joy. But what about us adults? My 20 year old daughter is for the first time thrilled to have earned money this year to buy every one a gift. So she is still in essence a child in this family, and not yet jaded by the stress of this time. I am now questioning myself, as just a few hours ago, I was being Scrooge-like, thinking “why are we spending so much money on cheese for the lunch?”
I needed to STOP. Breathe. And think what it’s really all about. I realised it’s about giving, and about gratitude. And about keeping the stress levels down as much as possible.
So I found this wonderful quick stress reliever from the well-known Mr John Gray – the author of “Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus”.
It might help you to feel the JOY again:
Do this now, and feel the effects, then try it out tomorrow when you are at the Christmas lunch table, if you feel overwhelmed….
Find a place when you will not be interrupted or distracted. A private bathroom or alone in the car works great when you are in a crowd.
Follow these five steps:
1. For about thirty seconds, hold your hands up like you are holding a basketball and feel the sensations in your palms and fingertips.
2. Then, for about thirty seconds, while still focused on the feelings in your palms and fingertips, slowly pull your hands apart about six inches like you are holding a beach ball.
3. Then, for about thirty seconds, while still focused on feeling your palms and fingertips, slowly bring your hands together like you are holding a grapefruit.
4. Finally, for about another thirty seconds, while still focused on feeling your palms and fingertips, pull your hands back out and once more hold that imaginary basketball.
5. Repeat the above four steps with your eyes closed for another 2 minutes while practicing heavy breathing.
You don’t need to worry too much about the thirty second mark for each movement. Instead, focus on the imaginary objects that you are holding.
I hope this helps you. If you add the power of breath, this is a very similar tool we use in Kahuna to bring stillness and balance.
It will also help you to stay feeling grateful for all you have, and for all you are, and for all you give and do. The feeling of Gratitude overides all negative emotions and draws more Goodness into your life. So, remember to stay grateful, keep giving, and BREATHE. For what you give out to the world is what will be returned to you.
Be Gentle. Be still. Be True To You.
Wishing you love and wholeness at this time.
And may we wish this even more for our troubled world.
Warm wishes and Aloha from the Southern most tip of Africa,
Brenda
