How many times does your LIGHT get dimmed during the holidays? Wouldn’t you love to stay calm and carry on? When you feel your light beginning to fade, there are pathways you can turn to, to help you remember what you know in your heart will shine your LIGHT.
Now thru December, I will share with you blogs and articles to support you in the most heart-centered ways so as to help you create a light-filled and magical holiday season.
SHINE YOUR LIGHT FOR THE HOLIDAYS
L- Love yourself
I – Illuminate the true spirit of the holidays
G – Give gifts of love to yourself and others
H – Honest appraisal of how you feel and what’s going on
T – Trust your inner knowing to guide you
Starting with Halloween at the end of this week, the stir of the holiday season begins.
In hearts of children we see pure joy as they anticipate and prepare for Halloween festivities. The gleam in their eyes (before the candy) reflects the excitement of the costumes, colors, and the fun of trick or treating. Their imaginations and sense of adventure are unlimited as they think about ‘who they can be’ and acting out those roles with no inhibitions as only a child can do.
As adults we get caught up in the activity and exploration for fun, but with our own limitations and expectations on perfect costumes and ‘getting the night right’. Then, when trapped in our own stresses, we don’t set limits on time, festivities and on the sugar goodies. The smiles turn into whines and upset tummies, and the fun into chaos and mayhem.
Then, before you can catch your breath from costumes, parties and Halloween festivities, preparation for Thanksgiving is upon us.
If your focus is kindness, giving and thankfulness, then Thanksgiving will be a true day to celebrate.
However, the overload and stress of cooking, cleaning, and even traveling for Thanksgiving can dim the joy and take away from the lightness and purpose of getting together with family. Many times you begin to feel less than thankful because you have overextended yourself, not set limits on what you are doing and not asked for help or simplified how you created the festivities for Thanksgiving Day.
Then with the speed of sound, we move into the Holidays of Light in the month of December.
The weight of the multitudes of additions to the already full to do list becomes overwhelming. There are the ever increasing demands of the holiday season, holiday parties, costumes for Christmas plays and of course the gift giving. The list goes on and during the month of December.
BE the LIGHT.
IS it possible to be LIGHT during the holidays? I believe it is.
If you listen closely Angel Violet whispers not so softly,“It all starts with you!” 
L- Love yourself. (Part 1)
You will thank yourself (and so will your children and family).
A heart centered holiday mantra is “Stay calm and carry on”. Being calm means letting go of the should’s, ought to’s, and most importantly, what others will think about what you do or don’t do for the holidays. (This works well in life in general, as well.)
Some of the loving questions you can ask yourself are:
Does this stress me out or give me joy? what can I do differently? Why am I doing this? Will this make a difference 10 years from now?
It’s amazing the sense of peace you’ll experience when you let go of the should have to reason for doing certain things. Not only will you feel better, but you will have more energy for what you want to do.
The negative energy weighs you down.
I know this is easier said than done but give it a try. I think you might be surprised how easy it may be to let something go or do it differently.
For Halloween – Do you really have to make the costume this year? Where can you set limits? Something that has worked for many parents is trading candy for something else the day after Halloween.
Shine your LIGHT on Halloween; join in the fun, but set limits for everyone so that the day and evening remain pure and enjoyable.
Remember, Thanksgiving is not the only day of the year you need to get together with family, and isn’t the only day gratitude is present in your life. Your LIGHT can always shine with a sense of heart-felt happiness as your family gives thanks for the small things in life. Take the pressure off of only thinking it can happen one day a year.
Think about it, what is the message you want to give your children/family about the holidays?
Ways to Love Yourself
This may sound preposterous but giving yourself a little “love” -yes quiet or alone time, even ten minutes, will refresh your body and mind.
More importantly, if some of that loving time is already in your schedule, don’t skip that time during this season, or don’t skip your yoga or gym class, which is so easy to do during these busy weeks. This is when you need it most.
When you engage in “quiet time moments”, you may find that your to do list keeps flashing through your mind. Stop and give your mind something else to focus on. Be gentle. Notice your mind wandering and bring it back.
You may want to:
- Listen to a short, quiet meditation.
- Focus on your breathing.
- Play music you love and really listen to the words.
- Or sing the words to the song. (Loud!)
- It may be cold but 10 minutes in the fresh air will clear your mind.
- Don’t skip the opportunity for quiet if you get a mani pedi. If you don’t do that, gift yourself some time. Be still. Enjoy the pampering.
- Your physical body will thank you.
I believe magic is in the letting go, creating space. Although contradictory it does work.
Love yourself, by being kind in your expectations of yourself. Stop when you are tired, and definitely when you are exhausted. (I so remember those holiday seasons that I was fighting a cold by the time Christmas Day arrived).
Loving yourself is stopping. Stopping to refuel your inner self, stopping to eat, and stopping to be still….even for a short time.
As you love yourself, it takes pressure not only off you, but also your children and everyone around you. Children feel your stress and act accordingly, so loving yourself IS loving your children (family and friends).
Three Pathways to Loving Yourself This Holiday Season
De-stress and Relax, just a bit, to Shine Your Light this Holiday Season
First Pathway:
Enjoy the Free Spa Jacuzzi Room and 3 Minute Light Meditation 
http://serenitypathways.com/free-spa/
You’re taking the fist step off the busy treadmill of life as you nurture your body, mind and spirit. After your visit you will notice how in just this short time you feel more relaxed and calm.
Second Pathway:
“This site had a hands down agreement of being helpful with families who had young children to those who were very busy looking to prepare meals in an easy but time effect ant way. “Feeding your family nourishing real foods doesn’t have to be hard. http://diamondpathways.com/resources/gifts/
Third Pathway:
The Family Diamond Audio Series
Many women are not alone in needing support to navigate the holidays with as much ease as possible. Your “inner family” (inner child, inner nurturer, inner warrior, inner sage) can support in small ways you may not have thought of to move through the holidays more easily and with more joy. Your inner family can also remind you what’s important to navigate your days more efficiently and gracefully. The Inner Family Diamond 5 part audio series is for anyone who wants to more easily find inner peace (especially during the busy season), listen inwardly more closely, support yourself more quickly and go after what you desire more confidently. read more at DiamondPathways.com/family-diamond/
Post your ideas, your experience and inspire another women!
Be your loving light during the holidays,
Bonnie