Holiday's recipe for change and hope!

As you celebrate the season, give yourself the gift of hope in the midst of the celebration and stress. How?

Hope can be...

reminding yourself to embrace the grace to be patient with issues that may have been brewing for some time or even may have hijacked your emotions. (As we have all experienced, holidays have a way of bringing out inner turmoil mixed with an urgent desire for change.)

Let's face it, when you bring together family, holidays, financial pressure, nostalgic longing, and time together with those you don't see all the time, something is bound to well up. What has been bugging you behind the scenes may suddenly come to the forefront. Rise above the immediate impulses of irritation and embrace the grace of the Christmas season.

If you have not experienced that yet, give it a week and when you hit January - you'll know.

Recipe for Change?

• Do yourself a favor: instead of digesting fear, anger, bitterness or grudges to allow you to stew and overflow with bad decisions I suggest you...

• GUARD YOUR HEART, YOUR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY TODAY by giving yourselves some extra "wiggle room" and grace.

• When hot topics arise this season, cool the burners and take a breath! (If necessary, remove yourself from the situation if you need to, enough to let your emotions calm so you do not fuel a fire with words you may regret!).

• Make sure you identify the challenge or stress and agree on a good time to talk about it - privately. Not all hot topics need to be discussed in front of family, children or around the Christmas tree.

• Make a plan:

• a time to talk

• to agree on what the challenge(s) is/are

• to identify ways to get healthier and stronger

• to find help from a subject matter professional or expert. (Need help with marriage issues? Call Great Marriages!)

Remember, no matter how deep your challenge, it can be overcome. It is the season for sharing and giving to each other. That may mean that you have to sacrifice something that is preventing you as a couple (or family) from becoming a stronger part of love.

What ever the challenge you face, you can address it.

BE ENCOURAGED

DATE IDEA: Write a love note and hide it in the tree for someone special, give it or send your letter. It could be addressed to your spouse, loved one, a family member far away or someone you want to thank from the past, now departed. Giving the gift of the written word can be a way to encourage them and bring your heart some joy of thanks -even if it can not be reciprocated.

If you as a couple have not done this together for a while: Please make it a point to write, and then read your notes to each other - privately! This is your time. Don't let the Christmas rush prevent you from carving out time for togetherness.

Remember - affirm and thank your loved one for their gift of words and love to you!