Here are two essential ingredients you cannot do without during the Thanksgiving and Holiday season. However, before I get to that let’s just set the stage…
For starters, I would hereby like to make a public service announcement that the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is now officially in full gear!
To be honest I think it was activated right at the start of the month of November. However, for the sake of the skeptics who may disagree, let’s all at least agree that today is the official day. I am open to hear different opinions - just comment below but I would need strong justification confirming otherwise. :-)
Traffic has intensified to new levels. I was headed to the grocery store a few days ago to grab a couple of items and a 10 minute drive lasted 45 minutes and No, there were no accidents.
I decided that I could do one of two things:
Get all worked up -
Fuss at every car around me (speak loud enough, disregard the fact that all windows are rolled up), wondering what was hindering them, and ask why they are not inching forward the moment rolling forward 3 inches from the previous car becomes an option - I confess I have been guilty of it. I would also constantly refresh my navigation app every few seconds to determine if there was an accident or construction work causing the holdup. Simultaneously, I would be trying to strategize how I could transform my car into an airplane to get out of traffic.
OR
2. Take a deep breath and re-focus -
Turn up my favorite music, enjoy the moment of temporary forced stalling; get lost in the music and keep my peace and my blood pressure rightfully aligned.
Now as tempting and satisfying as option 1 was, I opted to exercise enough self-control to do the latter... The result - an ever refreshing time of worship and meditation causing the time in traffic to be less painful. As a matter of fact the backlog time flew by quickly.
Just thought I would throw that out there as this is necessary to help us manage all the stress and pressures of the season.
Now back to the 2 essential ingredients I mentioned.
Ingredient #1 - GRATITUDE
Make this a season of being grateful to God for carrying and sustaining you up to this point. It has been a very tough season for many, including me, especially within the last two years. However, by grace you have been given the strength to see each new day.
Take some time to tell God thank you for everything - for the good times and for the bad.
If you’re finding it hard to pinpoint a good time begin to think about all your daily blessings, those things that seem insignificant; the air we breathe, the food we are able to eat, courage and strength for each new day, being able to keep our routines are all precious gifts from God. I could go on. There are indeed a million little miracles to be grateful for.
Be grateful for those who have stood with you, encouraged, offered support and been there through hard times. With life as busy as it is a call, text or an act of kindness is precious. Let them know you are grateful. Say "THANK YOU". It goes a long way to warm another heart.
A grateful heart is a blessed life. Reflecting on these things, even if you are not where you envisioned yourself to be, fills the heart with hope and confidence to forge on and experience new possibilities each new day brings. You were created for a purpose, you were made for more. God is just getting started with you. This is not the end, it is just the beginning.
Ingredient #2 - YOU
Yes YOU! Through the hustle and bustle of the season, our primary focus tends to be the endless list of shopping for family, friends, coworkers and the list goes on but Don’t forget to put YOU on the list!
Carve out time for yourself to reset, pray, relax, take a breather and reflect.
This is essential to making you a better you and causes you to be the best version of yourself. Being healthy spiritually, emotionally and mentally allows you to have a healthy mind and body and helps manage stress. At the end of the day the best version of you is what you want others to experience when they interact with you.
2. While you plan the grocery and gift giving shopping lists for others, write down something for yourself.
Write something you wish to purchase for yourself and do just that. Title that line item "Self- Gift Giving'. This is not a selfish act. This is your gift reward. YOU deserve it!
Sabina Prempeh-Arbuah is a certified life coach, and trusted business strategy & finance executive coach. She has been featured in multiple publications including CBS, Fox, NBC, The U.S Times, Voyager ATL among others. She has helped clients break through the obstacles that seem to be holding them back in life, discover their purpose and live fulfilled. In her words she states "Your Life Re-imagined is the ultimate goal"