By Pia Guerrero

Well it’s that time of the year. The holidays are here and whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or Festivus for the Fest of Us it can be exhausting, especially with so much anger in the world and news with Trump and massive shootings. Without notice, running around and simple existing turns your festive feelings into a nightmare. With to-do lists piling up, the season of giving morphs into the season of, “I can’t give anymore”.

Life happens. And sometimes when it gets hectic we forget what it’s really all about. So to help you love yourself, your life and your loved ones during this time we thought we set you up with some:

JOY

“There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.” –  Kahlil Gibran

Joy is the most powerful experience. I find when I am truly cheerful, the people around me magically hop on my happy horse. And that is the real gift–looking into the eyes of others that I have made smile just by being joyful myself. It’s infectious! You don’t have to bounce off the walls to be joyful. You can be it simply by getting present to it. What are some things that really make you feel happy? Is it your child’s laugh, your dog’s snore, or your extended family gathered around a meal? What do you feel when you think of these things? I bet it’s joy. In the end all anyone really wants for you is happiness. Be generous with yourself, spread your wealth, and be joy to the world!

PEACE

Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek but a means by which we arrive at that goal.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

By being peaceful we create peace in our lives. Notice when you’re feeling caught up in the moments around you. Are you adding to the chaos by your reactions? Are you trying to fix or change something that probably would be fine if left alone? There is a saying, “In acceptance there is peace”. By accepting yourself, others, and situations as they are, you become calm. Have you ever seen a Zen monk get overwhelmed and frazzled? You don’t have to live in a monastery to feel peaceful, you just have to stop, accept, and breathe. Try it, I promise you’ll like it and others will be more peaceful because of it.

GRATITUDE

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things, which he has not, but rejoices for those, which he has.  ~Epictetus

Our friends at Tiny Buddha recently shared that,

“Everyone likes to be appreciated, yet research shows we are collectively quicker to place blame than offer praise. Perhaps it’s because we’re wired to seek solutions to problems, which means we need to recognize things that aren’t working.”

Gratitude at times can take some effort. Especially when you are at the airport in line to receive an invasive body search on our way to celebrate the holidays with loved ones. But even in the worst of times, gratitude is something that we can easily conjure up. I had a friend who before she took on the town and rocked the nite away would say, “I’m going to go put my fierce on”. Like a coat, we can put on any kind of attitude we choose.  After all, gratitude is the best attitude especially when shared with others.