I don’t know about you, but I just love the week after Thanksgiving.  I stay away from the insanity of Black Friday shopping, and I start to slowly take out decorations and yes, the Christmas tunes start to fill the house. It is that glorious time before the holiday stress starts to take hold. I am just filled with JOYFUL ANTICIPATION!   The question is- “How can we embrace and cultivate the sense of anticipation that is a natural part of the holiday season and keep it going all year long?"  In other words, how can we practice intentional anticipation?

Jay Shetty, author and life coach, says as you cultivate excitement about something in the future, it upgrades your experience in the present. Yes,  we can do this intentionally!  What might it look like if you took a little time each morning to tap into that feeling of anticipation?  How might it change your perspective on the day ahead? How might it inform your choices? (See Monthly Teen Tool)

So, what else can we do to keep the "Happy" in Happy Holidays?  December is a time when we typically have more face-to-face time with family members. It is a great time to connect with your tweens, teens and young adults. As parents we tend to major in minor things. Relax your standards.  Let go of the need to fix each other. Use this time to connect and celebrate wins for the year. Goals for the new year can wait until after December 25th.

Finally, remember to keep things simple and prioritize self-care. Get enough sleep, exercise, and eat healthy when you can, in between all the goodies and celebrations.  Remember you are not obligated to continue holiday traditions that leave you broke, overwhelmed or exhausted.

Eight years ago, my family started simplifying our gift giving.  We try to stick to the Four Gift Rule: something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read! It has been a fun challenge sticking to this rule and there have been many clever surprise gift exchanges through the years.

As you  journey through this holiday season, I wish you joy, ease, and wonder. I hope you will take time to be quiet, reflect, and celebrate all that is well with your world. Count your blessings!  Continuing to work with all of you is certainly one of mine!

If your teen or young adult is struggling, please reach out to schedule a Complimentary Discovery Call to learn more about life coaching.

ginnymoylan@findingyourfirefly.com