With just a few days left before Christmas and the end of the year, many of us are already feeling the stress that is normally associated with the increased time pressure, loneliness, over-consumption (of food, drinks, sex, entertainment, etc), and the financial pressure that holidays can bring. For many of us this could easily turn the song ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year’ into ‘It’s the most stressful time of the year!’ How can you prevent this from happening? How can you thrive this holiday season and make it the best holiday you had all year?
In my experience, I find that unless I am grounded in something greater than myself, it is SO easy for me to loose the perspective of what this ‘Holy-Day’ is really about, and get caught up in old patterns and old ways of being that are no longer serving me. And what is this thing that is much greater than myself that I can get rely on to help me stay grounded during this holiday season? Simply, Love.
That’s it! Get grounded in Love. And how can you do this? By keeping your heart open. Here’s 7 ways you can do this starting today:
1. Connect with your heart. Find yourself befriending that cocktail and food table during a holiday gathering? Simply place your had over your heart and allow the release of oxytocin (the love hormone) to guide you into feeling more loving, as you make your way to someone you find interesting and start connecting with them.
2. Find Community and Support. Seek to connect and surround yourself with those friends, family members and people that you appreciate and feel good being with. Also, seek to connect with old friends that because of your busy schedule you’ve been able to connect recently. Find something to appreciate in them!
3. Take Time for Yourself. Take longs baths, read an inspiring book, go for long walks on the promenade or the park. Use this time of relaxation to welcome creative ideas that you can implement in 2012!
4. Serve and Help Others. The fastest way into your heart is by giving love to others. A Course in Miracle says that whatever quality we feel is lacking in our lives is because we’re not giving enough of it. Want more love? Give love! How about doing some volunteering work this holiday season? Who knows, you might even meet a very special soul(mate)! 
5. Occupy Within. Go spiritual, meditate and pray, read inspiring literature, or do anything else that allows you to connect with that deeper and greater Spiritual Love that lives within you.
6. Celebrate your Success! Rather than focusing on what you did not accomplish this past year, focus instead on what you DID accomplish, and on all the new people, projects, and circumstances that unexpectedly came into your life! Be grateful for all of it!
7. Follow your Heart and Take Risks. If there’s something you want to do, do it. If there’s something you don’t want to do, don’t do it! Acting with passion and confidence are the biggest attractors to Love.
What about you? What else can you do this holiday season to keep you heart open and stay inspired?
Single and ready for love? If you’re single and want to use this holiday season to prepare for love in 2012, you might want to check out in my ‘Manifest Love’ program, the most comprehensive, spiritually based yet practical approach to manifesting your ideal partner or soulmate. More information at this link.
"Plenty of Capetonians are getting their Hearts On Fire through Gabriel's workshops"