Not Perfect, But From the Heart

image courtesy of Monsterkoi via pixabay.com

There’s often a lot of pressure on us during the holidays to make it “perfect.” We feel even more of this pressure when we have family and friends coming to share the holidays with us, because we want to give them the “perfect” holiday experience.

This year, with smaller celebrations at home, is a perfect time to worry less about “perfect” and more about what comes from our hearts.

Decorate as much or as little as you want.

Prepare and eat the foods you and those living in your household enjoy most, even if they’re not traditional.

Laugh. A lot.

Rest when you’re tired.

Play with a mix of tradition and fresh ideas that make you happy. See where you enjoy simplifying. If the entire burden of the holiday was on you, and there are others living in your household, include them in getting things done. Invite them rather than accuse them. Find out what traditions and tasks give them joy, and let them participate. So often, we feel we have to do everything and present for others, when they may well enjoy the process of decorating or cooking, or even sitting in the room talking to you while you do it.

Maybe you want to spend less time cooking this year and more time on decorating.

Maybe you want to order prepared meals and just heat them up on the day, so you can watch a movie or read a book.

Holidays are about celebration. So often, they wind up being about exhaustion.

This year, from Thanksgiving through the end of the year, think about what makes you happy, and also what gives you energy.

Let your rituals and traditions feed your soul instead of deplete you.

Lead from the heart, rather than from expectation.

Allow yourself joy rather than exhaustion.