I can…
I will…
I am happy.
I can do
whatever I set my mind to do.
I will,
relax, rejuvenate, and rejoice.
What are
your plans for the upcoming Holiday season? Will you spend Thanksgiving with
family, friends, or feasting on a smaller level? Before you bake that first
pie, or baste your turkey, take a moment to think about what this season means
to you.
If it’s
happiness you’re seeking, begin with gratitude, sprinkle with humor, and drizzle
with fun. I’ve often heard happiness described as a state of mind. If
this statement is true, start by conditioning your mind to believe that you ARE
happy. Go through your day as though you already have what you are seeking.
Below are
three steps to help you find happiness during the holidays.
Step
1 Practice mindfulness – focus on being in the moment without
worrying about all the tasks that need to be done during the holiday. Being in
the moment means enjoying the process rather than rushing to get to the end
result.
Instead of
feeling overwhelmed by the upcoming holiday, find a way to add lightheartedness
to whatever you do. I did this very thing the other day. I was in the Holiday
spirit, creating my gift giving list when a thought hit me – did I pay my auto
loan this month? I had not.
I quickly
called the finance company to make a payment over the phone. The customer
service person was friendly, he asked how my day was going. It could have been
part of his training, to put the customer at ease about the chunk of money they’re
about to give up. He was pleasant so I accepted his comments.
After making
the payment, the representative said, “I will email your receipt.”
He recited
my email address. When he saw it contained the word writer, our conversation
took a different direction. “Oh, you’re a writer. Do you write fiction,
non-fiction?”
“I write
children’s books, essays, and comedy.”
“Oh, you do
stand up? Can you give me one line.”
I paused as
a chuckle rose from my belly. My quiet thoughts said, ok, just go with this.
“I’ll tell
you one of my opening lines… I used to be a brick house, now I’m just happy
with a CLEAN house.”
I was
rewarded with a hearty laugh from the friendly customer service guy. So, I
asked, “Now, do I get a discount for telling you a joke?” He laughed louder.
I did not
receive a discount, but Mr. Friendly said I made his day. I had fun at that
moment even though I had to pay that bill before I could do some fun shopping.
Step
2 Create a mantra – come up with a positive phrase that you repeat
daily (in the morning and again before you go to bed). This could be as simple
as coming up with I am statements such as the one I used at the
beginning of this post.
Step
3 Have Fun – Allow yourself to relax, breathe and have fun.
Change your perspective on tasks that you do during the Holiday. Instead of saying
I have to go shopping for my five nieces and nephews. Say I get
to go shopping for my nieces and nephews.
While you’re
shopping take the time to enjoy the twinkling lights in the stores, and the songs
blaring through the speakers. Dance in the aisle if you want.
Happiness is
a state of mind. We have to train our minds for the joy we want to feel.
I am…I can…I
will. How will you complete these statement?
I am Hott Flash, your Humor Doctor, and I am prescribing laughter for your Holiday season; one dose at a time.
Find
something to laugh about during your day. Leave something funny in the
comments.
