Christmas Blues
Dear Chris,
It’s only November and I’m already stressed out thinking about too much food, too little money and too much company. How can I do “Christmas” better this year instead of feeling depressed and frustrated?
Signed,
lost my peace on earth.
Dear Lost,
This is a great question that a lot of people are asking right now. Take comfort that many others have experienced similar feelings of anxiety but then have made changes to find peace on earth with comfort and joy.
Now that you are aware of your feelings you can consider possible changes.( So good job on getting in touch with your thoughts and feelings!)
So where does the change you want come from? Guess what? It’s already inside you just waiting for the right circumstances to come out! Change occurs when you uncover the person God created you to be.
This is NOT about will power. Change is about more than discipline and self control which inevitably doesn’t last. What’s more, when our willpower fails and we give in to old habits we tell ourselves a lot of unkind things – “like this is hopeless; nothing is ever going to change.” So stop trying to change your life with just your will power.
Instead ask, who and what will help you with the chaos of daily living? Who are you surrounding yourself with this holiday season? If you can’t immediately name two or three people that make your world a little more beautiful then these precious gifts of people are the gifts to ask for this Christmas.
Go search for them. AND, make yourself open to receiving them into your life. This is not the same thing as making more friends on FaceBook. Get some face time with people instead of facebook time.
We become more and more like the people and places we surround ourselves with. If you keep the company of stressed out, depressed people and you will be stressed out and depressed. If you spend time with healthy, inspirational people you will become healthier and inspired.
Of course we can’t always remove toxic or stressful people from our lives. (Bill collectors, Mother-in-laws, Airport security personnel…) But we can add healthy, happy people into our lives. The Epistles use the words “one another” almost 60 times as in love one another, encourage one another, and carry each other. Look around you and add one another to your life. Not only will they help you de-stress, eat right, celebrate better, and get some of Jimmy Stuart’s wonderful life – you will become more like them and do the same for others. Now that will bring joy to your world.
We are a therapeutic church. We all have problems, stress and pain in our lives but truly, we are better when we live in community with each other. Don’t go it alone if you are hurting. Isolation is your enemy. We don’t have a big counseling center yet but we do have a big network to catch you when you are troubled. We have counseling, retreats, support groups and life groups. Talking helps. Support saves lives and creates a life worth living.
Most of you know how to find your pulse. Take a minute right now and feel your heart beat. This is your proof that you were created – and therefore have a Creator –a Creator who came to us as the prince of Peace. So it is with great assurance that I can say to you, Peace be with you.
