By: Bethanie Jones
Oh, the holidays.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but also the most busy, the most stressful and often times, the unhealthiest time of the year too. We spend more money than we have, give more than we should, see people we may not care to see, and we over exert our schedules.
Now, I’m not some kind of a scrooge here. I LOVE the holidays, don’t get me wrong, but I can’t help but ponder…the expectations we put on ourselves this time of year. Are they realistic?
Our trees, lights, menus, outfits, dinnerware, waistlines, pocketbooks, and families, all have to be perfectly in order. Everything. Always. Has. To. Be. Perfect.
“The kids better behave when Aunt Tanya gets here, because she’s a real snake, and if my dad finds out I quit my job he’ll just lose it. I hope I got enough stuff for the kids this year and I really hope no one notices that I’ve put on a few extra pounds.”
This holiday season, my wish for you is to let that all go. Let go of the notion that we all have to be perfect. Because no matter how great anyone seems from the outside, I promise you, they are struggling too.
Money and cars and jobs, do not make us perfect. Marriages, kids and relationships do not make us perfect. Nothing in this world, outside of our very own souls, can make us perfect. Human beings cannot be perfect, albeit we most certainly do try. We waste precious time on this planet striving for something we can never obtain.
We are all fighting our own battles and we all deserve to give ourselves a break from the mind chatter and expectations we inevitably put on ourselves. Be kind to yourself this holiday season! Just let it go.
Give yourself the gift of self-compassion and take a look at how far you’ve come on your journey. Don’t look back, look forward. Be hopeful. Be light. Be there for yourself in the ways that only you know how to be.
May you feel as if you are enough this holiday season. May you love yourself, your families, your children and your spouse right where they are. May you love yourself, with all your flaws, mistakes, regrets, fears and imperfections unconditionally.
May you be peaceful and at ease.
May you be well.