Holidays are generally a stressful and challenging period for everyone. 2022 is a welcome relief from the last two difficult COVID-19 pandemic years of fear and grief. Thank God for the gradual return to normalcy one day at a time.
The thought of keeping the house clean, cooking the perfect meal, and even holding harmonious conversations can sometimes be overwhelming. But thankfully, you and your family can have peaceful holidays free of stress even if it feels like you’re losing your grip.
Thanksgiving Day heralds Christmas and New Year’s Day. We all have something to be thankful to God for – especially being alive to witness another Christmas holiday. Here are five ways to have a peaceful holiday with our families.
Let go of what you cannot control
Some people naturally have an innate need to control every situation and even control the actions of other people. It doesn’t make sense. The earlier we realize that we cannot control everything, especially people, the better for everyone. The only thing you can control is YOU… and how you react to situations and people.
Realizing this on time will help you let go of what you cannot control. This may be harder for some than others. But at a time when we are gathering together and giving thanks for our blessings and the end of another year, it’s a good idea to take a step back, a deep breath, and decide you will let go of control.
Be mindful of unnecessary stressors
In a bid to have a perfect holiday, we let ourselves worry too much and this can be stressful.
Did you take on too much to do for the holidays? Or perhaps decided to cook too much food? Always take a step back to think and identify all the unnecessary stressors that might pop up and remove them without remorse.
When you remove unnecessary stressors from your holiday and especially your everyday life, you have more peace, and calm and are able to enjoy your day and your family to the fullest.
Love people for who they are. Not who you want them to be
You might not always agree with every decision someone makes with their life, but people will always be people so love them anyway.
That you disagree with someone, or that they are different does not mean you cannot love them. Look past those things you disagree with and love them anyway. After all, Jesus is the reason for the season.
Learn it is okay to say “No”
Though it’s a healthy choice to love people for who they are, not saying no when you need to isn’t healthy for you. Loving someone doesn’t mean you can’t say no to them.
You need to learn to set boundaries with people, especially if you feel they overstep or that it’s necessary.
People say no for all kinds of reasons – sometimes, the request goes against their morals or conscience. Or they are burnt out and need to set priorities.
Being able to say no can help you focus on what is most important to you, and what your boundaries are. It also takes away unnecessary stressors that you do not need or want in your life.
Make the positives your focus
Yes, there might be lots of hardship all over the place, but that doesn’t mean you cannot focus on the positives.
What are your blessings? What are you fortunate to have? What have you achieved? What have you let go of? What positives are in your life?
You have a healthy family, a full stomach, and a roof over your head. Some people cannot say all of those things, but this by itself is enough to be thankful for. There are positives in almost every situation, they just need to be found.
Make a list if you need to of all the blessings and positives that you have in your life, and make your children do the same. It’s a good way to learn to be just a little more grateful for the lives we have been given and the people who are in our lives.
Wishing you a happy holiday season.
Tamera Glenn writes on diverse subjects.
