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As we celebrate family and friends at this time of year, we are also more likely to experience tons of traffic, busy shops and a very full calendar of special events!  We need to be extra mindful and grounded, in order that the busyness doesn’t spill over into road rage or hurtful comments.  We always have a choice as to how we respond.  We are always modelling for our children.

Our thoughts create our feelings which means that we have to be very conscious of our thoughts and use them to help us stay calm and grounded.

5 Tips/Thoughts for Staying Grounded and Peaceful

For example, if you are driving and someone cuts in front of you or gives you the finger, you can use these quotes from Wayne Dyer to help you:

 1.  “How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.”   Wayne Dyer
(Even if you don’t believe in karma, it still applies to the kind of stress that this person is creating for him/herself)

2. “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.”  Wayne Dyer

When your child is experiencing distress or hurt feelings and screams and yells at you, you can say to your child:

3. “You’re having a really tough time right now” or “You’ve got really hurt feelings”.  There is no need to take it personally, your child’s comments are a reflection of what is going on inside your child at that very moment.

When you view a family member as causing you angst, you can remind yourself that…

4.  “When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.”  Wayne Dyer

5.  Keep the mantra “Return no hurt for hurt” in mind.  There’s always a high-road or a low-road that we can take, with our comments and actions, and this mantra helps to remember that it is always more wise to take the high-road.

A Christmas Wish by John Denver

I love this song by John Denver.  The messages he gives us are very powerful.  Here’s a beautiful rendition by Kathryn Nicholson, which you can listen to as you read these meaningful words.

A Christmas Wish  ~ John Denver

I don’t know if you believe in Christmas
or if you have presents underneath a Christmas tree
but if you believe in love
that will be more than enough
for you to come and celebrate with me
for I have held the precious gift that love brings
even though I never saw a Christmas star
I know there is a light I have felt it burn inside
and I have seen it shining from afar
Christmas is the time to come together
a time to put all differences aside
and I reach out my hand to the family of man
to share the joy I feel at Christmas time
for the truth that binds us all together
I would like to say a simple prayer
that at this special time you will have true peace of mind
and love to last throughout the coming year
and if you believe in love
that will be more than enough
for peace to last throughout the coming year
and peace on earth will last throughout the year.

Wishing you and your loved ones peaceful and loving quality time over the holidays,

Warmly,

 

 

 

PS. My next round of groups to teach boys and girls about anxiety and anxiety management strategies will start again in January. (Winter Anxiety Group 2016). The 7-9yrs. group is full but there is still room in the 10-12 yrs. group. For more information, and to register online, please click here.

PPS. I recently posted an article with many gift giving ideas for your family to promote attachment, self-regulation etc. you can find it here.

PPPS. For Vancouver families, here is an amazing holiday guide: Festive Flair 2015 holidays of all the festive activities happening in December.