The Holidays – On Purpose

Holiday TreeThey’re here! Of course I am talking about the holidays. And they are going to come and go whether we’re ready or not AND whether we enjoy them or not. I say let’s enjoy them. I also say let’s make the choice to experience them on purpose.

As good as that sounds, does it maybe sound a little impossible? Can I really be serious? Well, you can bet your tinsel and your big ole ornaments I am! Here’s how to do it…

First, make the CHOICE to experience the holidays fully ON PURPOSE, AWAKE, and INTENTIONALLY. Because if you don’t make that choice, the holidays are going to happen to you. You will be a spectator to your experience and you’ll wake up when it’s all over and legitimately ask the question, “what the heck just happened?”

Trust me. Been there, done that and it ain’t one bit of fun.  Here are some ways you might consider doing the ON PURPOSE thing:

At some point every single day, at least once, and if possible before your feet hit the floor, take time to notice yourself. Seriously. Meditate. Think. Pray. Write. Talk aloud. Whatever works for you but you’ve got to do something to get in tune with yourself.

Then when you feel like you are in touch with yourself, ask yourself these questions:

When the holidays are over, and I’m looking back, what do I want to be able to say about them? (A word of warning – don’t allow yourself to get wrapped up in dreaming about how OTHER PEOPLE are going to act or show up this holiday season!) Keep the focus on YOU.

When the holidays are over, and I’m looking back, what do I want to be able to say about how I showed up and experienced them? Be specific. This is another way of asking yourself, “Who do I want to be this holiday season?”

Now that you’ve got your answers, you have your yardstick and your guidance for how you show up.

You get to decide what to do or not do, what to say or not say, who to be or not be based on YOUR INTENTION.

Because if you say you want your holidays to be loving and nurturing, for example, you now get to ask the question, “Will (fill in the blank with what you are considering doing) support my desire to have the holidays be loving and nurturing?” Or “Will saying (fill in the blank with what you are considering saying) support my desire to have the holidays be loving and nurturing?” And then, you intentionally and on-purpose CHOOSE what you do and say. It really is totally up to you.

So, you get it, I know you do. To have the holidays be on purpose, you’ll need to spend some time deciding beforehand (that means NOW) how you want to experience them and who you most want to be during them.

Here’s to a great holiday season. On purpose.

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