The Joy of the Season!

The Holiday Spirit!

What is it about the holiday season that seems to bring out the best in most people? Can you identify the one thing about the holiday season that simply makes your heart sing? It might be something different for each of us but I am willing to bet at its essence the very core of what you really enjoy about the holiday season is deeper than the surface commercialism that is so in-our-face screaming for our attention.

Is it that families traditionally make the effort to get together in a unique way to share the joy of the season? That people go out of their way to think of others?  Or is it that smiles are more prevalent and people in general become friendlier at this time of year? It is undeniable that the holiday season has an impact on people here in America like no other holiday.

For many this is the one time of the year they experience something they sense is so organic that the anticipation of repeating the experience is the unconscious drive behind the excitement of the holiday season year after year. Collectively we all feel the joy of it at some level and we do miss it when it leaves.

What exactly is it that we love experiencing?

My theory is that what we love so much about the holiday spirit is that it actually is a reflection of how our everyday life experience is meant to be. That the kindness we give and receive at this time of year happens because we choose to allow the light of our true essence (which is inherently kind) to cut through our old conditioned and habitual mind patterns; we become less ‘selfish’ or ‘less-self’ and something greater than the ‘little me ‘shines through.

The fact we can recognize and are able to respond to the kindness within ourselves and others means for a brief moment we have transcended our old mind patterns which normally occupy most of our attention; those mind patterns which are mostly negative and circular and serve as constant reminders of past and future problems.

We become more mindful of others and it resonates because it is so natural to do so. I believe this is the essence of the holiday season and either consciously or unconsciously it is what is so attractive about it all. We instinctively feel better when we have put the good of others ahead of our own; if feels right. In fact have you ever noticed the energetic impact of unconditional kindness? The ripple effects are enormous because the kindness is coming from a different reference point; essence. Think of the Ebenezer Scrooge story and the powerful message it contains.

This wonderful holiday spirit happens because we choose at this one time of the year to act this way! Can we choose to become more mindful and have a spirit of kindness every day?  Why not? What could it hurt? After all we are only responsible for ourselves; it can’t be any simpler than that.

I invite you to make a conscious effort now and post holiday season to continue to be mindful of the kindness that is always available within you. Consciously choose kindness over fear, take a chance and place the good for others above your own. Then witness the positive impact this will have on you and your everyday experience at home and at work.

I guarantee the positive impact will be incentive enough to keep you experimenting with this and you won’t have to wait another year to experience the essence of the holidays.

Wishing you all the Joys of the Season!

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