It's holiday time again.
We love them, yes.
But, if you're like me, all the media commotion makes it easy to forget their true meaning.
And what's behind the true meaning of the holidays? This year, after meditating on this question, three ideas came to mind: grace, gratitude and random acts of kindness.
With these thoughts, I give you my own three steps for making this holiday season more meaningful.
Step One: Find Grace It's been a rough year full of deadlines, long hours and a whole lot of doing.
Now we enter into an even busier season! There seems little room for enjoyment.
And therein lies the answer: in my experience, the business of life far overshadows its true excitement; the thrill of living in the moment, choosing a meaningful gift or spending time with one another.
How to get back to this state of childlike wonder during the holiday season? When I'm feeling frazzled or anxious during this time of year, there's nothing that centers me faster than reading the words of my favorite authors.
Over the years I've built an extensive arsenal of motivational books just for this purpose.
I offer this solution to you, as well.
If you're looking for a portal to peace and guidance: it's instantaneous.
Here's some of my favorites: Dr.
Wayne Dyer - There Is A Spiritual Solution To Every Problem Neale Donald Walsch: Conversations With God, Book OneI Iyanala Vanzant: One Day My Soul Just Opened Up! Step Two: Be Grateful To me, gratitude is an instrument of faith.
One that is paramount for bringing meaning and fulfillment to the holidays.
Here's an example: During this pre-holiday season, I felt hurt and disappointed by a friend who just stopped calling.
In the past, the holidays seemed to escalate disappointments, family tension or friendships gone awry.
Somewhere in my mind the fairy-tale says holidays are about setting aside differences and loving each other.
Yet, sometimes friendships end and families disagree.
If you've had a similar experience, I've found asking for guidance from the universe in handling these situations can often dispel disappointment and create a sense of gratitude.
Focusing on what is in your life that brings you joy can often help you realize, everything is as it should be.
If a friendship ends or family hardship moves to the fore during the holiday, we can learn to forgive.
Moreover, when we are grateful for what we have and trust that we will be guided to handle the situation with a loving heart, we can open ourselves to receive the joy of the holiday moment.
Need A Way To Find Gratitude This Season? Give This Exercise a Try: Each day (especially during this time of year) commit to taking a long look around yourself.
When doing so, find everything you can to be grateful for: a kind and loving family, health, a particular passion or gift you possess.
If you practice, soon you'll become overwhelmed with gratitude for what you already have.
I hope you will find, every ounce of negativity falls away.
If you feel inspired, say, "Thank You!" aloud, in praise of the gifts you have already received.
Random Acts of Kindness: When we've taken the time to nurture our souls by becoming more grateful and accepting this holiday season, there is a way to continue to expand our gratitude.
How? By sharing it.
For example, I've noticed, if I continue to give away what I have in earnest, it expands.
Therefore, If we choose to create more joy, we can do so by causing another to feel joy.
Here's my favorite way: random acts of kindness.
Need More Joy This Holiday Season? Give This Exercise A Try: Begin by asking yourself, "How is it I may serve during this holiday season"? Can I give a few extra dollars to charity? Can I send a card and a short message to someone who I haven't seen in a while? Can I send flowers to my mom "just because"? If you look around, it is not hard to find ways to share a loving thought or message.
For a small amount of time, effort and money it's easy to cause an earthquake of joy.
My Blessing To You: May you find grace, joy and love in this holiday season.
For when your heart expands, you can give to others in earnest.
In my humble opinion this is the true meaning of the holidays: sharing what you have with those you love.
I think you'll find, by giving a healthy dose of kindness away - there's just that much more to go around.