As we enter the last week of Advent, what state do you find yourself in? Filled with excited anticipation? Frazzled and a bit frantic? Calm, collected and enjoying taking a simpler approach to the festivities? Or, if you are like me, somewhere in between.
I love Christmas, and do enjoy the anticipation and build up of excitement. But there is a necessary realism in recognising how busy and full life is, and the need to remind myself to stop…be present in and enjoy the moment…and not be consumed by the focus on what-comes-next.
These last weeks of Advent have been about shifting our perspective as we approach Christmas. Choosing gratitude and generosity. Being present rather than seeking to find the perfect present. Letting go of the need to be superman/superwoman and being at peace to be yourself.
Peace – it is the season for it after all.
I came across this quote from Simon Sinek, author of the very powerful Start with Why. He was talking about Millenials [a very thought provoking 15 minutes, watch it here, if you have a wee bit of time], and why they find it hard to succeed. But he said this, that made me stop:
We are [growing up] in a Facebook/Instagram world…in other words, we’re good at putting filters on things.”
What filters are you putting on your life?
Your home? Your family and relationships? This links back to last week, when I was musing on the expectations we put on ourselves at this time of year to be perfect, and to have it all sorted/organised/tiptopsmashing.
In doing this, who are we trying to fool or convince? And why? What do we achieve by having those filters in place?
What if you take those filters off? Instead:
…said, “this is me, this is who I really am, this is what I need, this is what my life really looks like…
…choose to be honest with each other about the hard stuff as well as the good stuff
…choose to say, actually I can’t do that/come/fix/organise, I have reached my capacity
…I’m not perfect, my life isn’t perfect, but I choose instead to be honest, real, grateful, and celebrate what I have, rather than wishing for what I don’t have.
Whatever your perspective on the meaning of this season, may you receive the gifts that you most need-
…celebrating all that this year has been, and where you find yourself now
peace and stillness to stop, rest, breathe, reflect…
…letting go of burdens that you can’t carry alone
treasuring those who mean most to you and cherishing time with them…
…taking the filters off, ceasing the need to be perfect, and simply enjoying being yourself.
You are a unique, worthwhile, valuable and competent person, and no one can be you or do what you do the way you do it. Knowing who you are and accepting that allows you to do what you do well.
Receive the gift of that this Christmas.
And may you have a very happy and blessed one!