AUTHOR: LAURIE PINKINS
How to Peacefully
enjoy the holidays
Learn how to overcome the stress and restlessness of the holiday blues. Using 4-steps to find your peace in GOD to enjoy the holiday season.
The holiday season is a joyous time filled with celebration. However, you may have experienced previous holiday disappointments which trigger feelings of stress and restlessness. During the holiday season learn how to plan effectively, give graciously, practice empathy, and enjoy yourself to overcome the stress and restlessness of the holiday blues.
“Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” Proverbs 3:17 KJV
1. Plan effectively
Are you prepared for the holiday season? Do you have a budget? Have you created a to-do list? Having a peaceful holiday season starts with effective planning. Begin planning for the holidays as soon as possible.
Create a vision of the holidays. It is a good idea to use visual guides to help you stay on track with a physical planner, vision board and designated holiday calendar. Review your expectations, traditions, customs and beliefs. Prioritize the details which matter most to yourself and family. Avoid following popular trends with the main goal of posting a picture perfect image on social media. During your planning limit your social media interaction to help reduce negative thoughts of comparison. Focus on creating valuable memories with family and friends. Plan the details you have control over. For example, travel dates, accommodations, event attendance and attire.
“Glory to GOD in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:14 KJV
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Invite HOLY SPIRIT to your holiday dinner.
Allow the peace of GOD to fill your home.
Prioritize quality time with family and yourself. Avoid over committing to attend holiday events, including work related events. Set intentional time for you and your family to show gratitude toward GOD for HIS peace. Invite HOLY SPIRIT to your holiday dinner and allow the peace of GOD to fill your home. Planning effectively for the holiday season will reduce the stress and restlessness of the holiday blues.
2. Give graciously
Do you find yourself wanting to buy everyone a gift? Have difficulty setting or maintaining a holiday spending budget? Feel depleted or empty after gift giving? It is essential to give graciously from a generous heart. Have pure motives to increase the well-being of others. Avoid the desire to over-give from a place of unworthiness to seek the validation of others.
GOD desires for you to be a generous and cheerful giver. In order to give graciously it is imperative to have pure motives and intentions behind your giving. Allow your intention to focus on increasing the well being of others. Follow the direction of HOLY SPIRIT to give gifts from a generous heart. Giving cheerfully and graciously from a heart of generosity will reduce the stress and restlessness of the holiday blues.
3. Practice empathy
During the holiday season it is imperative to take into account the feelings of others. It is easy to become overwhelmed with your own stress and restless emotions. When interacting with family and friends avoid being easily offended by their behavior or attitudes. Understand you can reduce your stress by limiting your conversations with combative or disagreeable relatives. Respect their viewpoints and decide not to engage in arguments.
The holidays are full of joy and celebration. The increased demand of your time, resources, and presence during the holidays can increase your stress. Avoid overacting to people due to overwhelmed feelings of stress. You have control over how you respond or engage with disagreeable relatives. Avoid fighting to be heard or understood. Instead attend holiday celebrations with the mind frame of creating valuable family memories. Extend empathy and grace. Choose not to engage in negativity. Practicing empathy will reduce the stress and restlessness of the holiday blues.
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Learn to enjoy yourself during the holidays.
You want to ensure you enjoy the holidays.
4. Enjoy yourself
Discover the things you enjoy during the holiday season. You may not be able to clearly define celebrating. This is a result of your previous focus on people pleasing. First, sit in silence with a pen and paper. Then, close your eyes and pray to GOD. Ask HIM to show you a clear vision of a peaceful, enjoyable holiday. Next, after sitting in silence, open your eyes and write what GOD showed you. Then, take the steps to create the holiday vision of peace.
The goal is to create a peaceful holiday setting where you are able to enjoy yourself. Focus on creating a harmonious, tranquil and calm holiday environment. Decorate with your favorite colors. Make your favorite dish. Watch your favorite holiday movies. Spend time with your favorite people. Avoid distractions of over-giving or people-pleasing. The idea is not to be self-centered or selfish. However, you want to ensure you are enjoying the holiday season. Even if this involves changing holiday traditions. Be flexible to change and make adjustments to align with the vision of peaceful holidays with the peace of GOD. Learning to enjoy yourself during the holidays will reduce the stress and restlessness of the holiday blues.
10 Scriptures for Peace
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” Romans 5:1 KJV
The healing process to overcome the stress and restlessness of the holiday blues can be complex. However, sustainable healing is possible with GOD. There is power in speaking and meditating on the scriptures of the Bible daily. Read, speak, and meditate on the 10 scriptures for peace.
Find your peace in GOD to enjoy the holiday season
GOD desires for you to have a peaceful and enjoyable holiday season. The peace of GOD will reduce the stress and restlessness of the holiday blues. You must be intentional about inviting HOLY SPIRIT into every area of your life, including holiday celebrations. It can be easy to become distracted with the commercialized versions of holiday celebrations. Invite HOLY SPIRIT to your holiday celebrations for the peace of GOD to fill your home.
Next Steps
GOD desires for you to have a peaceful and enjoyable holiday season. There is peace in the presence of GOD. Intentionally focusing on finding peace in GOD. This will allow you to enjoy a peaceful holiday season. Use these steps to reduce the stress and restlessness of the holiday blues.
Use these steps find peace in GOD and enjoy a peaceful holiday season.
- Plan effectively
- Give graciously
- Practice empathy
- Enjoy yourself
Read, speak and meditate on the 10 scriptures of the Bible for Peace.
“Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” Proverbs 3:17
“A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:8
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3
“And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” Isaiah 32:17
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:14
“And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” Luke 8:48
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” Romans 5:1
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 14:33
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” Galatians 5:22
Are you having difficulty enjoying the holiday season? Want to transform your life today. Get your free consultation with a Life Transformation & Healing coach to start the journey to find your peace in GOD.
For HE had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon HIM for to touch HIM, as many as had plagues.
Mark 3:10 KJV
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