Over the past few years, I have developed a ritual around the holidays that has become one that I just cherish. I come back to it again and again. This year is no different.
Because of this ritual of turning inward to prepare for the holidays, I have found a new season of Angela. I have returned to my personal values during this season and I don’t get swept up with the values of a consumerist culture. I let go of getting caught up in how others expect the holidays to go and I now feel confident about loving extended family and friends with wonderful boundaries that fosters loving kindness.
The benefit of boundaries.
The best part about this: others appreciate the boundaries and don’t really care if I have tried to please them with a gift or not. They appreciate the best gift I can offer them: the gift of time.
Offering the gift of presence and sharing your confident self with another person is just the right gift for everyone during a time of financial flux. You may have other holiday rituals, but we can find solace in securing our own finances and simply being present with a friend or family member to share intentional time together.
This is often a refreshing action that is unexpected! Being available and offering a helping hand at a party. Simply listening to the way the year has unfolded during this pandemic can be a treasured gift to another. Your presence of confidence in your own being. Your display of fortitude and continuation in a relationship that has required forgiveness.. this is an example of a brilliant gift.
I find that when my clients become more intentional about themselves and how they take care of of their mental health, confidence quickly follows. The action of personal development can also be a generous gift to others. Finding your strength and brilliance in your uniqueness, this can offer a gift of freedom from which others can learn and enjoy.
What to give?
Unraveling from the tangible gift, consider investing in your own self-confidence. You can do this with reading books, learning something new, following a self-care routine — all of these can foster feelings of confidence. You can take a course to build dopamine and help you feel radiant from new knowledge. I am sharing a course below that you can check out in your own time. It is simple and to the point and will help you build confidence in a couple of weeks.
However you do the work to draw out your confidence, I invite you to think of the intangible gifts that you can give to others that don’t deplete your bank account. Find some examples of things you can offer as a gift from the heart:
- Listening to another person’s story.
- A handwritten note to celebrate why you like, love, or adore them.
- A simple origami crane, butterfly.
- A handwritten poem, even your favorite poem from another poet.
- A photograph that you love with a note about why you want to share it.
- Cuttings from your garden.
These examples also help you understand the abundance that you bring to rich and varied relationship. Tangible gifts are sometimes expected and in those moments, following the cultural paradigm may be best, certainly.
However, consider being honest and holding yourself accountable to the truth of your financial situation. This can be a refreshing gift for all, as so many need to have more in their savings accounts at the moment. Providing for families is at an all time high. Retirement and healthcare is more expensive than at any other time in history.
Re-energize your relationships this way.
Beautifying the world with the confidence of supportive boundaries can offer a brilliant way to re-energize your relationships with truth and confidence. Taking away the stigma of offering creative and personalized gifts that are from the heart can feel awkward at first. I am writing from experience. However, I have found that the recipient feels delighted to have something unique and also to be taken off the hook for tangible gifts.
You don’t need to make an announcement about it. You can just offer the gift as it stands. It will be beautiful and intentional and your presence will shine through. The actual gift and that is truly an irreplaceable and finite resource: the gift of the time of day.
Wherever and with whomever you enjoy your holiday seasonal activities, may peace be with you at this time.
Join me for how to Build Unshakable Confidence AT THIS LINK. If you are unable to attend the sessions, the two workshops are yours to keep ongoing. These are 45-50 minute workshops and will help you refine your confidence with intention so you can enjoy the holidays no matter what comes your way!
