Five Actions To Cure Holiday Blues

Five Actions To Cure Holiday Blues Merry Christmas! Or not!! For many the holiday season is an annual reminder that there is no money, family, friends, or health, with which to enjoy this happy season. The truth is that if it were possible, some would not mind pushing the clock ahead to January 1, 2006. We all know that Christmas is prime time for depression. People who are short on money will often find a way to spend it. Not on friends and family, but on anti-depression medication. I will stop with the doom and gloom. Most of us understand the scenario. Many by experience. The purpose of this article is to help with the problem, not enhance it. If you are struggling with the arrival of the holiday season - or know someone who is, let me give five action points to make the season more bearable - if not enjoyable. 1.) Choose your focus a. Make a list of people or things that are positive in your life Sometimes you just have to make a conscious effort to think of what's good in a world that constantly directs our attention toward what's bad. But it is worth the effort. Take a few minutes to stop and make a list of the things that are good in your life. If you are having trouble getting started, let me help you with the first one: "I can breath." b. Express gratitude for those positives. Take a few minutes and express gratitude for the positive things you have in your life. Thank God. Thank your spouse or your kids or your parents or your neighbor or your friend. Gratitude is a choice. It forces you to focus on the positive rather then the negative. The above exercise leads to the next action point: 2.) Refuse to be Lonely This is also a choice. And it is a powerful one. a. Write down the names of 5 people you could develop a relationship or improve your relationship with. Decide right now you will do something for them this Christmas. It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive. Just decide right now that you will do something for someone else that will enhance that friendship and then do it! b. If you really are in a place where you are truly alone, you still have a choice. Find an organization that helps the less fortunate and get involved in some way. Every town and city has something like this. Choose to turn the pain of loneliness into positive energy rather than negative energy. Just get involved in someone's life. 3.) Give what you can, not what you can't a. Immediate Family -- Choose right now that you will not go into debt from Christmas giving. You will not only pay interest on credit card purchases, but also on the mental, emotional and relational strain that comes with 21% interest. Funny thing. I can remember one or two better than average Christmases where the gifts were flashier then normal. Other then that, the thing I remember most was being with friends and family. b. Extended Family -- Be creative in your giving. To those friends and family members you feel obligated to give to, why not give a card indicating you donated a sum of money in their name to the Red Cross. Through you, they are going to make a lasting difference in someone's life. Or, why not tell your friends and family that for a few dollars a month (less than what you would spend on a personal gift for each of them) for the next year, you have adopted a needy child from another country on their behalf and your financial gift will take care of his or her food and education for the next 12 months. Often these organizations will send you a picture and a bio of the child you are helping. How cool would it be to give your friends and family a picture of the child they are helping this year through you? In the end, you will spend far less money. However, the investment will have greater returns. 4.) Give your way to the Christmas Spirit. Sometimes you get out of Christmas what you put into it. Here is a challenge. Beginning on December 1, plan to be on the lookout to help someone every day with a surprising act of kindness. a. Hand the person at the fast-food drive-through window a five or ten dollar bill. Tell them to apply it to the purchase of the person behind you in line. Then drive away without looking back. b. Offer to buy a soft drink for the person standing with you at the coke machine. c. Bake a plate of goodies for your neighbor d. One thing I like to do is call a server over in a restaurant and request the bill from a table I choose across the room. Then I pay it anonymously. Sometimes I leave never knowing the reaction. Sometimes I sit back and watch them try and figure it out. It doesn't have to be expensive. Doing just a little every day does a lot for you. I recall the words that remind us, "It is more blessed to give then to receive." 5.) Prepare Ahead For Next Year Preparation can take different forms. Here are two suggestions. a. On January 1, start putting money aside for next Christmas. Hopefully, you will have had such a great time this year that you will want to be better prepared next year. Determine that you will not touch it. Think how much more you will be able to do. b. Prepare emotionally and mentally by settling in your mind that next Christmas will be a positive experience rather than a depressing one. Establish some action points that will make your intentions a reality. Maybe this January 1 you will utter a sigh. Not because the whole mess is behind you. Rather it will be due to a wonderful sense of fulfillment. Good luck. Oh, and Merry Christmas. Tim Kellerman is co-Author of The Abundance Principle: Five Keys to Extraordinary Living (www.TheAbundancePrinciple.com). He is available for print, television and radio interviews. Contact him directly at 501.339.7620 or visit www.AbundantLifeProject.com. Media Kit www.AbundantLifeProject.com www.TheAbundancePrinciple.com The Abundance Principle Extraordinary living is now within your reach, bringing with it new found peace, joy, & security. In The Abundance Principle, you'll uncover a radical teaching in the ancient words of Scripture - a teaching that leads to an extraordinary life! Once you discover the Five Keys to Extraordinary Living, your life will never be the same. And you won't want it to! For a limited time only! Take advantage of the pre-order special now and save 40% off the retail price! Biographies Dr. Jeff D. Standridge Jeff Standridge currently holds a senior leadership position for a publicly-traded, multinational technology company headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. Formerly, he was an Assistant Professor in the University of Arkansas System and maintains active involvement with a number of institutions. He has been the recipient of numerous professional awards and special recognition, including being recognized in 2004 by Arkansas Business Magazine as one of the Top 40 Business Leaders under 40 years of age. He is retired from the U.S. Army-Arkansas Army National Guard. Dr. Standridge holds the Doctor of Education degree with special work in Adult Learning, Organizational & Leadership Development, and Teaching. He has been an invited speaker, trainer, and/or consultant for numerous businesses, organizations, and institutions of higher education across the US, Canada, & Europe. Additionally, he has been published, interviewed and quoted in a wide variety of business, trade, news, and online publications. Rev. Tim Kellerman Tim Kellerman is Lead Pastor at the First Church of the Nazarene in Conway Arkansas where he has served for 10 years. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Ministry with an emphasis in Church Management. Additionally, he is a graduate of the School of Large Church Management. Tim's formative years were in Taiwan where his parents served as missionaries for 17 years. Because of his unique upbringing, Tim brings a well-rounded perspective of life. Tim is a certified Search and Rescue Scuba Diver, has attained a brown-belt ranking in TaeKwon-Do, and is an avid Racquetball player. Together, Jeff and Tim bring a unique blend of perspectives and insight, drawing on their personal experiences in business, organizational leadership, academic research, and pastoral ministry. Below is a partial list of invited presentations, speaking and consulting engagements across the US, Canada & Europe: American Association for Respiratory Care; American Cancer Society; Arkansas Children's Hospital; Arkansas Executives Forum; Arkansas Society for Respiratory Care; Canadian Association for Health Care; National Association for Emergency Medical Technicians; International Respiratory Congress; Society for Human Resource Management; University of Arkansas System; University of Central Arkansas; US Army - Arkansas Army National Guard. Suggested Media Questions 1. You've written a book called The Abundance Principle. Tell me more about this principle. 2. Who do you consider s your target audience, who could benefit from The Abundance Principle? 3. From reading your website, I see you are Co-Founder of The Abundant Life Project. This is an interesting name, what does it mean? 4. What's the mission of The Abundant Life Project? 5. You've identified these things you call the Five Keys to Extraordinary Living and your mission is to transform lives. How do you go about doing that? 6. What led you to launch this "project?" 7. What's on the horizon now for The Abundant Life Project? 8. Do you have plans for any other books? 9. How can members of our audience receive more information about The Abundant Life Project? 10. What message do you want to leave with our audience? Contact Information The Abundant Life Project TM 811 Teal Dr. Conway, AR 72034 501.339.7620 Websites www.AbundantLifeProject.com www.TheAbundancePrinciple.com