bythemethod.com blog

Well the great day has nearly arrived and its down to the last minute rush on things. As I write this many people are stuck at Heathrow Airport trying to make their journey for Christmas. It’s a tough time for many people. Sometimes our efforts to make us happy are the very things that end up giving us the most stress.

The way we perceive things has a profound effect on how much stress we live with from day to day.

For instance if you believe that getting a great present makes Christmas for you then the present buying and giving is likely to be your greatest source of stress. Likewise if the food is the thing that makes it for you then this is likely to be the greatest source of stress.

For me the most important thing is the religious side of things. The birth of Jesus is the most significant thing and diminishes the pressure of everything else. Now what is important is giving time up to think about what Christmas means and making sure I’ve had my fill of Christmas Carols by the time its Christmas day. Thankfully I also enjoy this stuff – Christmas is one of the best times of the year to get along to church.

Now the other great thing about this is that a good spiritual life is excellent for reducing stress.

For some people Christmas is really tough. Some lose loved ones this time of year and Christmas just seems to make the pain all that more keen. Others find it difficult because of difficult family situations that developed over Christmas. We ought to remember people who feel this way and do what we can to support them. I don’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate but we should be sensitive to others. If you are someone for whom Christmas is tough then I recommend getting yourself off to church at some point. Not all the services are for the children and some will bring you comfort.

For me Christmas is about hope. Hope is a great factor in reducing stress. Find some hope and all the rest of your troubles somehow don’t seem quite so bad.

Have a good holiday and I’ll be back in the new year.