Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, or as many of my friends do, some combination thereof, I hope you’re having a holiday season filled with peace, joy and abundance.
That’s what we all dream of, of course, but sometimes reality falls a little short of the holiday fantasy. Perhaps you’re dealing with a parent or a sibling or an in-law who gets on your last nerve. Perhaps you feel waves of sadness left over from past years, or from your childhood. Maybe you’re missing someone who is no longer in your life. And like many people this year, you may be experiencing a shortage of material resources, unable to buy the gifts you hoped to give the people you love, or even unable to pay your day-to-day expenses. You may be worried about the future.
In the story of Jesus, we read that magi traveled from the East bearing gifts for the babe. The gifts of these three kings were gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This holiday season, I’d like to suggest that you give yourself three gifts. Used together, these three gifts empower you to heal your life and your relationships, and to move toward a life filled with all you desire.
The first gift is forgiveness. Life offers us unending opportunities to forgive ourselves and others, and the more we forgive, the more joy we experience. Forgive yourself as you would forgive your most beloved friend. Whatever guilt or failure you may feel, put it down. Forgive others, not for their sakes, but to relieve yourself of the burden of carrying a grudge.
Resentment and unresolved anger are a poison that taints every part of our lives. Often we don’t even consciously think about the resentment we carry, but when we make a decision to forgive, life is so much lighter and easier. And here’s something you may not know about forgiveness: you don’t have to feel it on an emotional level. You just have to make a decision to be willing to forgive. Tell God, or the Universe – whatever you believe – “I am willing to forgive. I don’t know how to do it, but I am holding the intention to forgive.” The feelings will follow the intention.
The second gift is gratitude. We’ve all heard the advice, “Count your blessings,” so often it sounds trite. But consciously thinking of, and being grateful for, every single thing you value in your life, will immediately shift you from negative to positive feelings. Tonight, as I write this, I am grateful for each of the people I love, for my home, for my work, for my healthy body and mind. I’m grateful for the Christmas tree that sparkles with light, and the comfy furniture that fills this room, and the cozy socks keeping my feet warm. I’m grateful I have transportation, and utilities, and food.
Everything is my life is not perfect (that’s the human condition, after all). There have been periods when I have had much less, but there have also been years I’ve had more. The point of active gratitude is two-fold. First, it shifts my attention to the good in my life. Then, as I concentrate on the good, Law of Attraction brings me more and more good. After all, I know whatever I focus upon, increases.
The third gift is focus on the present moment. Human beings waste so much time regretting or mourning the past, and worrying about the future, that we let the present moment fly by uncelebrated. Resolve to live fully in the now. The best way to do that is through your senses. Let your eyes rest on something that will bring you joy, whether it is the face of another person, or a bit of nature, or an object in your room. If you like, just hold up your hand, and appreciate the magnificence that is your body. Let your sense of smell, and touch, and hearing, and taste, fully embrace your surroundings. As you practice being really alive and present in each moment, you’ll do so more and more. And your happiness will increase. Conscious presence in the now opens the door to incredible joy.
Right now, I am sending you love. I join the Universe in extending you forgiveness for anything that needs forgiving. I am so grateful for you. I see you laughing and fully present in each beautiful moment of your life. I see your circumstances spiraling up into a wonderful new year.
Merry Christmas!