Christmas

Christmas blues are experienced by many.  A time of joy, love and happiness is experienced by many as sadness rejection and emptiness.

There are many people suffering from depression precipitated by painful childhoods reenacted in adult relationships.  For many the loss of relationships, health, and employment brings sadness rather than joy.  For many the joy of Christmas is out of sync with the pain of reality in their everyday lives.

Christmas can be a time of rebirth in your life.

Claude Mariottini, Professor of Old Testament at Northern Baptist Seminary wrote about Christmas. He wrote:  "Christmas reveals the full extent of God's love for us. God was touched by our needs; He could not see us suffering alone so, He came to give us help, comfort, and peace".

Are you suffering alone?

You do not need to suffer alone.  If you want to stop your suffering, you must make new choices. 

Choice Number 1 is to turn away from your past.  Remember the story of Lot's wife in the Old Testament.  She looked back and turned to stone.  Looking back and holding on to your past will harden your soul and essence.  Are you willing to let go of your resentments, disappointments and alienation from others and even from your higher power?  Are you willing to let go? 

Choice Number 2 is to make a choice to live in the present.  "Living in the Now" is where you can become free from the painful emotions and memories of your past.  Living in the present is where you can become free to experience the joy, happiness and togetherness of Christmas, now and forever. 

Choice Number  3 is to make a choice to be receptive and connect to your higher power and those who love you. Are you willing to reestablish the connection with your higher power, significant others and friends. Are you willing to let them bring love, comfort and bring peace to your life?  Are you willing to love and be loved by your higher power and significant others?

Christmas is a time of rebirth.  With the advent of Christmas, time was divided into B.C. and A.C.  The Bible was divided into the Old and New Testament.  Christmas can be the time to divide your life into the old and new you. 

Dr. Mariottini went on to write "Jesus came bringing  Life and hope to the lives of millions. Under the spell of His love, lives hardened by hopelessness, cruelty, and oppression, grew soft and renewed by divine love".

From a Christian and mental fitness perspective, "lives hardened by hopelessness, cruelty and oppression" are reborn by loving and feeling loved.  Love is there for you.  Your higher power is there for you.  Your loved ones and friends are there for you.  Now it is time for you to be there for yourself and open up your heart and mind to Christmas.

Remember, You Live within the Environment Created by Your Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

Comments

[Sherry A.]

I have read a your blogs about Christmas and illness/anxieties. I went to church Christmas Eve day. I got a lot out of the priest's homily. I know that Jesus came for those who suffer most of all. Even as a child I always wondered "Where are you God? Why have I been left here, with people who don't want me here?" I was so lonley, scared,ashamed, literally physically sick. As I grew I became accustomed to these feelings, even though they wern't pleasant. And when I married and had children I always made sure to give the best to my children, always overboard with gifts, cooking, etc. I now see I always did these things far ahead of Christmas, planned ahead. My shopping was done early, I cooked and baked ahead of time...just because I knew I would be sick at
Christmas. I have conditioned myself like one of Pavlov's dogs!!!! I really didn't mean to be that way. It just happened, I had no control.

This Christmas I have a new plan. It is early Christmas morning, I wait for those I love to wake up. I plan to feel the happiness in my family and myself. We will have a blessed and happy Christmas.

Then the big surprise, those I have felt so uncomfortable around all my life,my own brothers and sisters, have been invited to my house for a game night. We never learned to play and have fun with one another, so we will play games,have snacks and hopefully we WILL have fun.. for my part I have stepped out of my comfort zone. I don't feel sick, maybe a little nervous but not full blown physical systoms. I feel in control. It was my idea. I am not sure what kind of turn out I will get, but it's a start, a huge leap for me!!!! I'm not even worried about "what if this fails and they don't come." That would be their loss because I have a fun, stress-free evening planned. They are my brothers ans sisters and today I have love for them and I want to spend some time with them. I plan to have FUN.I can't help but wonder how many will show up and how many will be sick and how many are not speaking to each other so they could not possibly set aside there differences and just have fun together as a family.

I figure, if things don't work out, atleast I was adult enough and strong enough to step up to the plate and try. I do love them!!!

Thanks Dr. Hal, for helping me be me. You always tell me things and i go home and think about it and read your self help material and I can see things can be what I choose for them to be. It is possible and really not all that hard, once I figure out I really am a good person just the way I am. A few bad habits to work on but life is good and it can only get better if I choose for it to!!!

Merry Christmas to you Hal and Shirley!! GOD Bless

P.S.That child deep inside me knows now that God was with me all the time, for I am sure as anything I would not be here today had He not shared the dark lonley corner of my childhood.