Christmas isn’t supposed to be stressful
When Jesus walked the planet, he didn’t have a plan to create a massive holiday of gift-giving…complete with stressed out gift givers. Jesus came to remind us of our eternal holiness, our pure innocence, and the love of God for each one of us.
That is what I receive from his message, anyway. What do you receive?
This Holy Day season, let’s remember that it is a season of peace.
This means that we can be peaceful about the season! We don’t need to create anxiety about buying stuff, or whether or not we’ve given “enough” to our kids or family members. Even children who are used to getting a lot of presents can be re-trained to value gratitude, service to others, and simple (maybe handmade) gifts instead of the mountains of plastic they expect. Re-training ourselves and our children is going to take some work and inner fortitude. I know we can do it – if we commit to it.
This isn’t simply a stress management issue. In addition to our emotional health, we need to safeguard the resources of our beautiful planet. So cutting back on Christmas consumerism is an essential environmental issue as well.
Peace is our birthright. It is our very nature. We’ve lost track of that, and Christmas stress is a great barometer for how far we can lose ourselves in the expectations and habits of consumer society. But we can divorce ourselves from the madness, and claim the simplicity of true Christ consciousness. It is within us, every moment of every day. Let’s find it together.
Merry Christmas!
Thank you Ana for sharing what you receive from Jesus’ message during Christmas. It both touched me spiritually and nudged me mentally to question my choices, my expectations and habits, especially regarding the spirit of the season.
You asked the question, “What do you receive?” regarding Jesus’ message during the season. I receive a song.
I sing:
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
blessed is the fruit of thy Womb,
the Prince of Peace, a light
filled vessel-The child,
that brings the holy message-
Hark the Hearld Angels sing,
We are Born full
of infinite Grace,
We are all Peace and Love
like the new born King.
Merry Christ-mas (more Christ)! F.Cano
Comment by Farrrah Cano — December 21, 2008 @ 3:47 pm
I am still carrying Christmas excesses on my credit card, every year I pledge to buy less and DO more, but each year I find myself paying off the balance through June. How to meet expectations of loved ones while still seeking to turn our focus to shared joy in making the world a more joyous place. Help.
Lynda
Comment by Lynda Zehsazian — April 3, 2009 @ 1:24 pm
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Many people get lost in the shopping and gift giving, spending more than they can afford and get anxious after. Learning how to focus will indeed help among other things.
Comment by Barry — December 7, 2009 @ 1:41 am
one of the best things to incorporate with Stress Management is meditation and deep breating exercises.*~,
Comment by Kaden Hayes — May 23, 2010 @ 9:20 am
my best friend has been in an Anger Management class for 2 months now, he improved a lot when dealing with anger..’~
Comment by Autumn Washington — May 23, 2010 @ 10:05 pm
Everyone really wants some good way of stress management. Yoga and meditation are good.-`;
Comment by Abigail Moore — July 3, 2010 @ 12:00 pm
Anger Management is necessary to prevent raging men in the streets.-~`
Comment by Faith Foster — July 10, 2010 @ 9:11 pm
stress management is easy, just take some deep breathing exercises and a short nap*~’
Comment by Flannel Sheets — October 13, 2010 @ 11:18 am
stress management is always needed in every setting, wether you are working in a home business or corporate environment’.:
Comment by Allergy Treatment : — October 24, 2010 @ 11:27 pm
for those of us who cannot control anger, i think that anger management should be a reuirement to have a quality life `-’
Comment by Sheet Plastic — December 3, 2010 @ 11:03 pm
:;; I am very thankful to this topic because it really gives up to date information ‘”*
Comment by Logic Gates — January 25, 2011 @ 1:20 pm