12/18/2014
Transforming Holiday Stress
Every season brings change, and change can bring us stress. How do we transform this stress into serenity? Is it even possible?
First, take a breath. Take a deep relaxing breath, and exhale much more slowly than you inhale. That’s it. Notice how taking charge of your breathing translates into some calmness. There are many things we cannot control, but our breathing isn’t one of them. So start changing how you deal with stress, right here and now, and change how you breathe. Have the courage to do the things you can. Notice how breathing more slowly, and deeper, shifts you toward more inner peace.
Now, ask yourself this question: what am I really trying to accomplish here? Yes, there are the To-Do-Lists, but what is underlying all those tasks? Am I only trying to give holiday meals and gifts, or is there a deeper intention to give love and joy through giving those things? Think about it: doesn’t a meal made with love absolutely taste better than a meal made with stress and upset? So, stop. Just stop and reconnect to the true intention behind whatever is on your lists and schedules. Stop totally until you can actually and viscerally feel the love motivation behind all you want to do. Here is the Serenity Key: the more you can feel the love within yourself, the less stress and more serenity you will have flowing through your actions.
Of course, stopping and practicing this serenity key will slow you down, and that might cause you to get less done; but that might turn out to be very the best outcome. Remember what Frank Lloyd Wright said: “less is more.” When stress is in charge, we tend to run in circles, wasting time and money, doing more but actually accomplishing much less. The beauty of the Serenity Key is that it can help us accomplish amazing things, not just lots of things.
Try it. Practice the Serenity Key for a day. Be prepared to see and experience many things in amazing ways. Happy Holidays.
