Ho Ho Ho-Are you caught up in holiday expectations?

Ho Ho Ho-Are you caught up in holiday expectations?

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The image is one of perfection. A happy family dressed in nearly matching sweaters gazes at the warm glow of a fire.

They smile. They laugh. They take selfies.

They’re in a world of their own. Life is perfect, and so is the holiday season.

You groan as you flip channels. A feeling of unparalleled loneliness wipes out any and all holiday cheer.

You start to doubt yourself. Why isn’t your life like this? Have you done something wrong? Suddenly, you feel left out.

Get Real!

If you’re like most, the image I just described is ingrained in your mind. And why wouldn’t it be?

We live in a world that celebrates an unrealistic idea of perfection. For those of us who struggle, this can make for a difficult holiday season.

The truth is, you’re not alone.

The holidays have a persistent habit of bringing up expectations-for nearly everyone. These expectations lead to the ultimate humbug holiday experience.

We find ourselves filled with disappointment. And let’s face it-that is anything but fun.

The one change you must make…

The good news is that you don’t have to stay stuck in this frame of mind. There is something you can do that will change your holiday season. It’s a simple shift that I myself have made.

Are you ready?

Rather than expect, you must accept.

This means you’ve got to let go of expectations. Nothing in life is perfect-especially the holidays.

If you don’t expect, then how can you be disappointed? Think about that for a minute.

It’s really not so complex.

The key to acceptance of just how the holidays unfold is to be present with reality as it is – moment-by-moment. That doesn’t mean you have to like it – but you do have to be fully present with it.

If your holiday season is chaotic, let it be chaotic. If Uncle Joe is crabby, accept that he is crabby. If you already know that an event is going to be tumultuous, let it be tumultuous.

In short, take the holiday season in stride.

Stop wishing that things were different than they are. After all, the only thing we can change is ourselves and how we look at and react to the now.

So this month, make it a point to stop fighting what is. There’s nothing wrong with having a holiday season that is less than perfect. The more you accept this, the more joyous this season will be.

To your mindfulness,

Dr. Marchand

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