Overcoming Resistance: How to Take Control During the Holiday Season
Have you ever felt like you're stuck in a rut, unable to move forward no matter how hard you try? Like there's an invisible force holding you back, making every step a struggle? You're not alone. We've all been there at some point or another.
What about when school begins, fall is around the corner...and the holiday season is in clear view again? That feeling can then intensify for many of us.
Joyous Exhaustion
The holiday season, a time of supposed joy and merriment, yet for many of us, it's a period of emotional and mental exhaustion. The relentless barrage of commercialized cheer, the pressures of balancing work, life and holiday prep, and the weight of family expectations can be overwhelming.
As we're bombarded with messages of happiness and togetherness, our minds and hearts begin to numb, making it increasingly difficult to muster the enthusiasm and festive spirit we once had. The constant expectation to be "on" all the time can leave us feeling drained, depleted, and utterly resistant to the very idea of hope and joy—leaving us feeling like we're stuck in a never-ending cycle of obligation and duty, rather than genuine celebration and connection.
So, let's take a step back, breathe, and acknowledge that it's okay to not be okay during the holidays. Let's reclaim the true meaning of the season, and find ways to nurture our own emotional well-being, rather than succumbing to the pressures of the holiday machine with three key areas of our life that we always have control over...even when the holiday madness feels out of control.
My main lead in my sweet holiday romance, The Christmas Coin, Amelia Collins learns a very hard lesson in what happens when we are always trying to keep perfect control.
"Her love of ballet had been unknowingly controlled by someone else’s words that shaped her beliefs, her thoughts, and her true self." - The Christmas Coin
3 Key Areas of Control
But what if I told you that the key to breaking free from this resistance lies not in trying to control everything around you, but in understanding what you can actually control? The truth is, we're often so focused on trying to control the uncontrollable that we forget to focus on what we can actually influence.
We waste our energy on things that are outside of our control, like the opinions of others, the actions of others, or the outcome of events. So, what are these three areas that we can always have a hold on?
Attention The first thing you can control is your attention. You can choose where you focus your mind, what you pay attention to, and how you respond to the world around you. You can choose to focus on the positive, the negative, or the neutral. You can choose to let your attention be hijacked by distractions or to stay focused on your goals. The power is yours.
Intention The second thing you can control is your intention. You can choose what you want to achieve, what you want to create, and what you want to become. You can choose to set goals that align with your values and passions, or to let your intentions be dictated by others. You can choose to be intentional with your time, energy, and resources. The power is yours.
Attitude The third thing you can control is your attitude. You can choose how you respond to challenges, setbacks, and failures. You can choose to be optimistic, pessimistic, or neutral. You can choose to see the glass as half full or half empty. You can choose to be grateful, patient, or resentful. The power is yours.
When you focus on these three things, the resistance disappears. The feeling of being stuck, the feeling of being held back, the feeling of being powerless – it all melts away. Because when you're focused on what you can control, you're no longer trying to control the uncontrollable. You're no longer wasting your energy on things that are outside of your control. You're free to focus on what matters most this holiday season: yourself, your family, your faith.
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