Christmas

The pressure is on………..

Jane JamesLeave a comment

…..for many of us ……..

The start of another week in the cold winter month of November. December is just around the corner and the run-up to Christmas will be ramped up. Dark mornings and darker evenings – aren’t always cosy for all.

Along with all the advertising for Christmas on tv, radio, social media, in the shops etc, ramping up will be the pressure we put on ourselves to be responsible for the happiness of everyone around us.

Are we really responsible for the happiness of others? Does their happiness really depend on the biggest or most costly present we get them? Have we failed if we don’t host the most awesome Christmas celebration with mountains of food we wouldn’t buy any other time of the year?

Or is this our mind overthinking again?

We all know the greatest gift we can give anyone is our time, kindness, encouragement and empathy – none of which cost any money at all but the value to those we choose to give them too is huge and will stay with them.

Building mind muscle to challenge pressures and negative thoughts when they hit, is something I’ve long lived by and share in all of my workshops.

We have to train our minds like puppy dogs to challenge the negative thoughts it will always jump to.

Take the pressure off……

…… Start with kindness to yourself.

“A priceless memory – the gift that keeps giving”

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Christmas is fast approaching and the cost of living crisis is looming large, engulfing many of us with no end in sight. The pressure to spend money we don’t have to bring the joy we want to those we love will be amplified and constant. The pressure we put on ourselves will get heavier and heavier.

Reading Susan Calman’s column, it struck me how true her thoughts are:

“a token present doesn’t mean as much as a priceless memory – it’s the gift that keeps giving”

How often have you given a gift that maybe cost you relatively a lot of money – maybe you used savings or a credit card – only to get a ‘lukewarm’ thank you?

Maybe you never saw your gift being used by the recipient. Children often want the latest toy, trainers etc because their friends have got them or they’ve seen the endless marketing and think they want these items.

Think back to the memorable times in your life – did they involve expensive gifts or priceless time with someone?

Why not follow Susan’s example of her birthday ‘presents’ and give your time to someone instead?

We can’t control the consumer crises, nor what politicians do, but we can control how we deal with things in our life.

What do you think?

So the madness begins…..

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Why is it every year people spend money on things they can’t afford for people they don’t always like, let alone love in the name of Christmas – a great marketing ploy……

Now the awful news for CityLink’s workforce of losing their jobs – what new year beckons for them? – especially if, like many people, they spent overdrafts/loans etc getting presents, food, booze and so on?  The news this morning of queues 500 deep for the Boxing Day sales!  Where does this total consumption end? Half the time we buy stuff in sales which we regret later.

Life can be very cruel and we never know what is round the corner.

Watching the baby in our family show huge excitement at the balloons, tinsel, wrapping paper struck me on how much I’d become wrapped up in the consumerisation of Christmas.  Buying too much of stuff that will be thrown away.  The baby of the family showed me all that is needed is time, attention and love – none of which we can buy.

As the New Year beckons, let’s love ourselves and our families that bit more by giving our time, energy and focus to what they are doing rather than line the pockets of retailers.

I’m very lucky in having a job I love and family and friends I care about and who care about me.  I wish you all the same.  May 2015 be filled with opportunities for you.  My New Year’s resolution is to not fall into the marketing/sales traps anymore.  To enjoy the holidays for their true meaning – not religious dictates – but to be with those we love and show them we love them – not with goods but with us physically being there – all of the time, not just at the holidays.

Instead of being rich, losing weight, never drinking again, why don’t you pick a New Year’s resolution which is achievable, sustainable and will bring you so much more joy.

Happy New Year!