Christmas can be a wonderful time and yet it can also be a very sad time of the year.
Christmas time has again rolled around. While this is a time of joy, giving and receiving, it also can be a time of great stress for some.
Some people are suffering from a broken relationship or struggling with health or money issues and they find this a very depressing time of year. There are people who need help, ones who are sad, depressed, feeling hopeless and lonely.
Others have lost a loved one. It is important to enjoy every time you have with your family and special people in your life on Christmas day or any time as you never know if that could be the last time you will see and be with that loved one. It behooves you not to worry if you did not get the gift that you wanted. Do not sweat the small stuff. Never let disappointment spoil the spirit, joy and meaning of Christmas.
In my own family my sister died on Christmas day several years ago and this year we will be missing my niece Jennifer who passed away at 27 years of age on August 27th, 2005! Somehow, through love, strength and affirmations we carry on with our own lives.
It is a time to remember people less fortunate and to give, as you are able. If you are unable to give money, you can give of your time and energy by sending positive, happy thoughts to others in need, that helping hand or a cheery smile.
You cannot change the entire world, but you can change your corner of it, one loving thought at a time, one kind act at a time and one smile at a time and allow this kindness to ripple out in all directions. You can spread joy, courage and hope to many others through the ripple effect.
It has been proven than one person can make a difference. This Christmas Holiday Season, please make a conscious decision and effort to make a difference in your part of the world.
Let us challenge each other.
It is my hope to share some positive strategies and ideas with you in this message to give you, your family members and friends the tools to help cope at this holiday season and any time.
“It is not what happens to us in life that counts,
it is how we handle what happens to us.”
Here is one strategy or method that I use to cope with challenges in my life and one that helps me start my day on a positive note.
It is my hope and affirmation that you will do this exercise and share it with others and reap the wonderful blessings and joy that I do.
This my Christmas Gift to you, all wrapped
up with my love, hope, joy and God’s richest
blessings for you!
Magic Magnetic Christmas
Circle Exercise
Get up in the morning, stretch, take several deep breaths, breathing out gativity and breathing in positivity, happiness, peace and joy. Stand in front of the window and with both your arms outstretched from your sides, turn slowly around from left to right (clockwise) and say,
“I, (your name), now magnetize from the sun, moon, stars and the entire Universe into my Magic Magnetic Circle peace, joy, love, health, happiness and prosperity to myself, which extends to everyone I meet. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
And so it is!
Then go on about your day and really see and feelhow different you experience your daily life. Let me know how it goes…
Ideas on how to create the best ever Christmas Presents even if you don't have a single cent in your pocket!
Yup, you guessed it right, make homemade presents…
You’ll be surprised how powerful this can be. It can be more powerful than giving your loved one a giant diamond ring.
When wrapping your homemade Christmas gifts, this year, stop and put thoughts of love into the wrapping paper and the gift itself. As you tie the brightly colored ribbons saturate them with thoughts of love, peace, joy and happiness. Even if you use newspaper to wrap your gifts, it is the love and thoughts that you put into the gift that counts.
Enjoy the greatest gifts of all at Christmas:
· watching children sit on Santa's knee
· watching your children or grandchildren on Christmas morning
· having a chat with a friend
· giving that busy Christmas shopper the gift of your smile
· or just sharing a cheery greeting to another.
Make up your own
Christmas Traditions
One lady has her own Christmas tradition. She puts her kids first baby clothes--daughter’s dress and son’s sweater on the Christmas Tree, remembering Baby Jesus, who was born on Christmas day.
Another lady prepared green and red envelops and she wrote on pieces of paper things she could offer her children that did not cost money such as -- camping, spending time together, reading, drawing, fishing, and different things that the children would want and enjoy.
She left some of the envelopes empty so that the children could fill them with their ideas and desires. She made Christmas gifts out of necessity that year which turned into enjoyment and fun for everyone.
One couple, who was very short of funds, made dog beds from scraps of material, etc. that they had around the house and what they could pick up here and there. They gave these dog beds as gifts to people who had pets and they just loved them.
Glenn, my friend who built my website, remembers a time when he was at University and he was very broke, living off peanut butter sandwiches. He thought, “What am I going to do, I have no money to buy Christmas gifts for my family?” Then an idea struck him, “Why not make some homemade gifts?” He went to the beach and got some driftwood and took a saw and dug a hole out of it to make a nice planter for his mom. While he was doing it he wondered how silly it would look under the tree.
Then he went to his favorite monkey tree down the block at night-time, and got pieces of the monkey tree and decorated them. He gave one to each member of his family – they were all giggling as has reached over with these long dangly branches to hand them a piece of monkey tree…having never got such an interesting present like this before. Everyone just loved these presents and said it was the best presents ever. But up to the point before they received their presents, Glenn was very nervous about how it was going to come across, since his family had always bought presents for each other. This turned out to be one of the best Christmases and the family talked about it for years.
This shows how powerful home made presents can be!
Now remember that January starts a whole new beginning for everyone on the planet.
Lets make an effort to make this Christmas Season and Holiday time the best ever!
Here we go…
64 Tips To Having a Cheerful Christmas and
New Years No Matter What!
Okay, it’s not quite like David Letterman…
Note: Make sure to read through to the end. I was in a rush to get this out so it would make it onto Santa’s sleigh, and some of the best tips are hidden in the middle of the list…
1. Decorate your house. Bright cheery decorations have a way of encouraging happiness.
2. Be organized and have a back up plan when asking people to bring items for the Christmas Dinner. For Example--if you ask someone to bring the cranberries, have some cranberries on hand just in case they forget. This little hint can make your life easier.
3. Do things together as a family. Invite family members to help set the table for Christmas dinner.
4 Pick out your Christmas Tree and decorate it together.
5 Refrain from being focused on what gifts that you are receiving.
6 Don’t ruin your Christmas holidays by spreading gloom to others because you are unhappy that you did not get the gift you wanted for Christmas. There is another Christmas coming next year.
7 When irate family members try to ruin your Christmas, just say, “Cancel, cancel, I am happy,” and never allow that negativity to go into your mind (computer) and you won’t have to deal with it.
8 Be happy with the gifts that you receive.
9 Teach your children that giving is a part of receiving.
10 Count your blessings and focus on them—the wonderful people and the good things in your life.
11 Keep doing your affirmations during this time.
12 Don’t beat yourself up with ‘could haves, should haves, why didn’t I’s' etc.
13 Put on and wear your ‘Special Christmas Smile.’
14 Be prudent and do not overspend just because a person wants a special expensive present for Christmas. Be realistic.
15 One of the best gifts you can give others is to love, respect and approve of yourself. This then gives them permission to do the same.
16 Take your happiness OFF lay-away. Enjoy it now.
17 Practice Random Acts of Kindness.
18 Give to the Empty Stock Fund, Salvation Army and other such organizations.
19 Help out at a Soup Kitchen in your neighborhood. It is very therapeutic and rewarding.
20 Take time for a bubble bath.
21 Take time to read something positive.
22 If you live alone, make yourself a special meal.
23 Beauty is everywhere--take time to find it.
24 Remember that even when life looks its blackest, there are still wonderful things around us if we choose to focus on them.
25 Be clear and focus on what is most important and release all else.
26 Do a check to see what you have been focusing on. If it is negativity, change it immediately.
27 Help a family member paint or decorate his or her home.
28 Give a Gift Certificate entitling the bearer to 10 complimentary rides, wherever they wish to go.
29 Give to the Christmas Hampers.
30 Knit a warm sweater, scarf or mitts for a homeless person.
31 Yield the right of way to another driver.
32 When you begin to get impatient, stop and say to yourself, “If I react in a native angry manner what effect could that have on that person’s life?”
33 Give honest appreciation. A little bit of appreciation goes a long way, especially during these busy, hectic Christmas Shopping days.
34 Be extra aware of others and their feelings.
35 If a person is grumpy, do not jump to the conclusion that it is aimed at you or take it personally, just know that he or she may have something going on in his or her life that is irritating, annoying or they could be experiencing worry or some physical pain or discomfort.
36 Do some Christmas forgiving – if you’re not sure how to do that checkout my book – some call me “A Master of Forgiveness” – the key to letting go and being happy – you only hurt yourself if you don’t forgive.
37 Forgive that family member that you are upset with.
38 Focus on how you can improve yourself and your life – Tell yourself those things are getting better right here, right now
39 Go to church.
· Some churches have the Christmas Tree Method,
made up of members of the choir standing in a particular
place with a lit candle that creates the form of a gigantic
bright, lit up Christmas Tree. It is a beautiful sight to see.
· Enjoy hearing and seeing the Christmas Story being acted out with Joseph, Mary and the Baby Jesus in the Manger, the shepherds, etc.
40 Be amongst people- Family and close friends.
41 Bring in Christmas smells, like the fresh smell of pine trees, and scented candles.
42 Bake together with your family.
43 Sing Carols together.
44 It is important to spend time with people, but there are times when it is not possible and in a situation like that it is good to experience what being with yourself is like. Pay attention to you breath, look outside at the moon, other people. Most of all become comfortable with yourself. You need alone time to get acquainted with YOU--the most important person in your world!
45 Enjoy some quiet time. Read book, listen to music, nourish your soul, do things that are comforting to you.
46 Light a candle and watch it burn.
47 Meditate.
48 Ask The Christmas Angel to be with you and your family and your time together at Christmas.
49 Do not be so worried about buying Christmas gifts. Christmas is not all about gifts; it is also about family and friends being together sharing, caring and enjoying happy fellowship.
50 Stop focusing on what you are getting for Christmas spend more time around the Tree and singing family carols, etc..
51 Loving self-- Be a love magnet to the right people and right circumstances
52 Decide to be happy Get up in the morning and say, “Today, I am happy.”
53 Have a budget when spending at the Holiday Season and stick with it and don’t overspend. If you do, you may find yourself suffering from the January Blues!
54 Call an old friend you have not talked to lately.
55 Realize that there are ups and downs and rhythms and go with that rhythm and let yourself relax and be who you are.
56 When disappointed with the actions of others, look at what your expectations are. Then ask yourself, “Is this reasonable, why does it have to be that way?” Am I too rigidly attached to my old beliefs and expectations?” If the answer is ‘yes’, you can change all that today!
57 Think about things in a different way.
58 Don’t expect too much of others or expect them to act as you do.
59 When you are upset with a situation, say to yourself, “This too, shall pass.” These words have helped me through many a crisis and unhappy situation in my life.
60 Go out doors --Go for walk--Get fresh Air. You never know what you will see –you may see something that renews, encourages, gives you hope, and makes you happy.
61 If you are where there is snow--Have a fun sleigh ride together enjoy, laugh and have fun. Make a Snow Angel. Make a Snowman, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus and the Elves—enjoy.
62 Enjoy a hot chocolate in front of the fireplace.
63 Look for and enjoy the wonderful, free things of life.
64 Stop and enjoy and bless a pretty flower, tree, mountain, stream or any of God’s Creations.
A Special Affirmation for Christmas and New Years
“I, (your name), deserve and now am happy and fulfilled. I greet every day with excited expectancy and enthusiasm. I am grateful to be alive and present here on planet earth at this time. I do my Magic Magnetic Circle
Method daily and bring my heart’s desires to me. I share my happiness and prosperity with others. I know that to be prosperous, I must help others prosper too! I am loving, kind and at peace. I practice Random Acts of Kindness on a daily basis. I am loved by the special people in my life. I am loving and lovable. I forgive and let go of all negativity, unhappiness, disappointment and hurts from the past and I now walk into my circle of happiness. I make this Christmas, Holiday Season and New Year of 2006 the best ever! I am alive, I am here, present in the now and I count. I am happy and fulfilled to the good of all parties concerned. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
I fully accept
Signed _______________________ Dated ________________
When you date and sign this Master Affirmation,
you have made a firm and binding contract
with Your Higher Self, God, Creator, Universal
Mind or whomever you believe it.
Have Fun
Happy Christmas
Happy Holidays
Happy New Year
And
Happy Affirming!
With love and blessings
Dr. Anne Marie Evers, ”The Affirmations Doctor”
