The dynamic of our society has changed and with it, what the holiday season might mean to some. Let’s look at some issues that impact many people: Working during or on a holiday; Family at a distance; Extended family gatherings are reduced to nuclear gatherings, leaving some at the fringes; Separation of families due to substance abuse; and on it goes.
A Woman’s Guide: Cultivating Everyday Personal Magnificence is a book designed to help during these times. I know, because I am often alone on holidays and the positive emotions I use in these situations lead to ideas put forth in the book. Let’s look at some ideas.
Chapter 10 talks about Willpower: The Beginning of Action. Willpower is often jump started with a noble purpose. Take your holiday time and give what you are doing a noble purpose. A noble purpose might be study of spirituality, prayer so as to improve your relationship with God, serving others in a job or as a volunteer, or time to reflect on the last year and direction for the new year.
Then, as you think on your noble purpose, pump up your positive emotion by increasing the importance of that idea. You might think how enhancing your spirituality might be the most important gift you can give yourself, a gift for years to come.
After many holidays alone, I have come to value my personal time with my creator, and I hope you will too.
Era Lewis 