November/ December 2024
Embracing the season
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Maybe you feel this way, maybe you don’t. But regardless of your situation, even if it’s dire and seemingly beyond hope, there are opportunities to be of service, to reflect, and to embody mirth.
1. Where is your focus?
Tragedy strikes in life, often when we least expect it – an unfair aspect of reality. Studies show that the more focused we are on ourselves, the less happy we are (Skipper, 2018). Thus, the more outward we can be, the better – and it’s best to do this proactively, before hardship occurs, so that we have already trained this muscle. There are boundless possibilities, especially around the holiday season, to be useful (see resources below).
2. Reflect ~
The Holiday season gives us time to reflect – reflect on how we did with this past year’s goals, and what our goals for the new year may entail. Goals are customized for each individual (which is where therapy and/or coaching can assist (mindpruner.com)). There is no one size fits all, no “right” way to structure your goals. Ideally, though, the goals will be balanced and cut across a wide array of domains within your life (physical, emotional, financial, social, spiritual). Contentment and peace come to those who find balance amongst goals, and realize their interconnected nature. Personally, I emphasize the social goals, particularly around this time of the year – the quality of my interpersonal relationships strongly, directly impacts how I relate to myself.
3. Laugh ~
Mirth (noun): amusement, especially as expressed in laughter, i.e. "his six-foot frame shook with mirth,” (Oxford languages, 2024). I’m about 6 feet tall so this example stands out to me. Amuses me. I am now striving to shake with mirth at least once/day. And I imagine that that energy would be infectious, facilitating other mirth-induced shaking – who wouldn’t want that? Laughter is the best medicine after all (Robinson et al.).
4. Give your smile and time ~
The world brings an abundance of ailments, and there’s a lot of discord and fear around the future for us to contend with. We might as well continually shift attention back to what is within our control (right here, right now) and laugh as much as we can – at the absurdity of life, at ourselves, with the ones that we most love and adore. Cheers to a holiday season of giving, reflecting and mirth.