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 Now that we are full into the holidays, insidious stress, that may have taken a “backseat” earlier in the season, for many, has cranked up their anxiety level. How is it that this time of the year, the ghosts of Christmas past tend to haunt us? It’s interesting how the holidays are supposed to be filled with love, joy, excitement and precious time shared with family and friends. National statistics, however, have shown that this is one of the most stressful times of the year. Much of this is a result of unfilled expectations and unresolved memories of past holidays. Each year, consciously or unconsciously, many of us step into the holiday season with the hopes that perhaps this year, time spent celebrating with family and friends, will be different than last year. Yet, how many times are we disappointed? What I have found through my own personal experience and with clients I’ve worked with, is that, until we resolve our issues around our past, history will continue to repeat itself. Good or bad, right or wrong until a pattern of belief is released we will continue the same pattern over and over again. When I was 7 years old my sister, who was 4 years old, died of leukemia 2 days before Christmas. Due to this trauma and loss, my whole family grieved independently of each other. It’s interesting how events like this either pull a family closer together or tear them apart. In my case, our family pulled a part. While we never completely get over the loss of a loved one, there are ways to release the trauma from our minds and bodies to help facilitate deep healing. Before I started the healing process, year after year and well into my adulthood, I would feel uninspired, emotionally “funky” and maintained a “bah humbug” attitude around the holidays. As my children grew up, they noticed this and would often ask, why I didn’t like the holidays? My response was often the same, I was sad because my sister died. I spoke the words as if in a trance and continued this pattern year after year. This, I’m sure was difficult for my children to understand. When I discovered different healing techniques that actually released my stuck memory of my sister’s passing, then I was able to change my story around the holidays and begin creating a new story of celebration. I would like to share some tips with you that may help you during this holiday season, or anytime that you experience heaviness in your heart due to grief and loss. The first step is in recognizing that there is a shift in your mood during the anniversary of a loss. To recognize a repetitive thought pattern, is the beginning of uncovering an unconscious part of our self that, until it is consciously noticed, will continue happening. Once we bring the unconscious conscious, then we can begin to shift our thoughts toward a more proactive pattern rather than a reactive one. If you notice a familiar thought or slip into a blue mood, notice what you keep repeating to your self and also notice how your body feels. Does it feel tight and tense or relaxed and fluid? Notice if you are feeling “yummy or yucky”, then consciously and consistently, bring yourself back to a better feeling place. With practice, you will become very good at noticing when your thoughts and subsequent mood begins to slip into a funk. The quicker you notice and acknowledge it, the quicker you can move out of it. With a Grateful and Very Full Heart, Catherine Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites       Add your comment |