Did you know there are less than six weeks until Christmas? As I get older the months of each year seem to fly by so quickly. With the growing number of years between my birth and today I find myself just as busy now as twenty-five years ago, though admittedly with a little less stress and less responsibility. You know what it’s like, if I could have a do-over I’d behave differently, but as I can’t I’ll settle for lessons learnt.
I enjoy the energy of being busy, of having things to do, and sitting still will forever drive me crazy. Unless I’m reading something, making something or there’s a good show or movie on the television. Even then I need to get up and move at every advertisement break.
I don’t enjoy the stress though, and I haven’t entirely figured out how to take the stress out of my daily existence. Using mindfulness, affirmations, crystals, candles, creativity and the garden as tools I’m doing okay, but I acknowledge many of us are still very much stuck under the pressure and anxiety of expectations. Our own expectations and those imposed by others.
How we view ourselves and others can keep us stuck in the treadmill of tension and strong emotions, fuelling the stress we are exposed to. I think if we lack confidence, we are more likely to feel anxious, angry, frustrated and out of control. A key for me is to take small steps, to claw back my sense of self, to spend time working through ideas, chores, and experiences, to control as much as I can. Does that make me a control freak, or a list keeper? I like that, a keeper of words, a crafter of peace and calmness. Words can be spells, we can weave our own destiny…but I digress, back to the practical.
What do you do to keep track of everything? How do you get organised for events like Christmas, birthdays and other occasions where we are exposed to people who will most likely push our buttons? Like any undertaking it makes sense to approach the situation with an awareness of managing emotions and expectations. Let go of those old ideas and feelings that don’t serve any higher purpose. If you can’t avoid the event, making a list and working through it logically, is a good place to start. Being prepared, so that on the day you can use positive self-talk to get through it. A couple of hours may seem like an eternity, but if you find yourself stuck, having a plan helps.
Back to motivation and what’s driving me this week. I’m lucky, today I got to spend a couple of hours with precious family members. The best feeling in the world, to connect with loved ones. I’m motivated to work hard on finding ways to connect with other people who mean the world to me. What’s your top priority and motivating force this week?