I wish you your best holiday season ever. And to help make it so, here are 3 very specific gifts that I hope you will give yourself and everybody else on your list. I call them easy because each one involves something you will, no doubt, be doing during the coming weeks. So, you’ll have opportunity to give these gifts and all you’ll need to do is be a little more intentional when you do these things. Oh, and I should mention that they are free, but they are certainly worth a lot more than their price!

When it comes to those hugs…

Take a deep breath and close your eyes each time you hug someone this holiday season. Notice how it feels to embrace them, make room in your mind and heart to make a real heart connection with them. It only takes a few seconds and it’s a real gift to each of you.

When it comes to those “how have you been?” conversations…

Do your best to really listen. I know that can be challenging, but face it, you asked the question, so unplug from everyone and everything else and soak it up. Nothing says,“I see you” more than being truly heard. And if there is one thing I think we all ache for, it’s feeling like we matter. This one might take a little bit of time, but truly, what’s the rush when it comes to letting someone know they matter?

When it comes to those moments when your button gets pushed…

Or maybe more than one button…Remember this, how someone treats you is not about you, it’s about them. And remember this too, how you treat them is not about them, it’s about you. Most of all, do your best to be mindful that people who are hurting are the ones who say and do the most hurtful things. That might just open the door to your highest and most compassionate self this holiday season.

Be intentional. 

You can choose to be where kindness lives.

What you do next matters . . .