my secret for the "just right" holiday

Published: Sat, 12/23/17

 
Dear Spiritual Friend,

Like many of you, we celebrate Christmas with family gatherings. I work at home, but I imagine many of you might have had office/work parties to attend as well. 

I'd like to share my secret for easy-going holiday celebrations. It's 100% effective and guaranteed to ensure seasonal peace and goodwill.

It's especially helpful if you've worked hard to create the "just right" holiday experience for those you love. This includes gift finding, getting your house ready, or preparing a family feast. AND if you tend to have EXPECTATIONS about how everything should turn out. 
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Ready for the secret? "Let it be." 

• When the quiche flops, "let it be."
• When Aunt Sally and Uncle Bob start to quibble during dessert and tension rises in the room, "let it be."
• When an unexpected blizzard rolls in and half your guests can't make it, "let it be."
• When your loved one gives you a gift you didn't want, "let it be."

"Let it be," is a statement of deep acceptance of what is. There is nothing you can do to change the situation. What we normally do is get upset about what's happened in the normal range of life experiences. This can ruin the day. 

"Let it be" allows us to take a deep centering breath, step back, and see that we have a choice to "react" or "respond thoughtfully" to what is happening. And to remember:

1. We did our best with the quiche. Things like this happen.
2. Aunt Sally's and Uncle Bob's issues are their own. "Not my monkeys" is a phrase that disconnects us from their drama, acknowledging that we don't need to get drawn in.
3. Weather changes. We can't control the weather.
4. "It is what it is." Meaning, what happened happened. When we have high expectations about anything, especially what we hope people will do, we set ourselves up for disappointment. 

"Let it be," acknowledges that what happens in life is so often beyond our control. We do not need to create drama or try to orchestrate everything—or the actions of others. In fact, we create suffering for ourselves when we think that we can fix and change everything to be the way we want it.

When we "Let it be," we set ourselves free to enjoy life as it is. 
  The Beatles - Let it Be - Live!!
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And, if you're like me, sometimes you need a tool to help you do something different or new. When I know it's time to "Let it be," I actually hear the Beatles singing their song, "Let it be," in my mind. This helps! 
 
"Let it be" is a principle of Living Gently.
If you've read the last few e-mails I've sent, you know that beginning January 1st, I'm launching a "Year of Living Gently." 

With that launch, comes my new book, Living Gently with Myself: A 30-Day Guidebook. 

I hope you are planning to join me throughout all of 2018 for this lifestyle reset I call "living gently." "Let it be" is one of the important principles that unhooks us from mindsets and actions that keep us stressed and overwhelmed by life.

I also hope you will take advantage of the 30% discount on the pre-order of the "Living Gently" book—good through Dec. 24. ​​​​​​​
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I'll be back before New Year's Day (when our "Year of Living Gently" begins) with more information on how to join in!

In the meantime, may all your days be as merry and bright as possible. Let it be!

Love and blessings,
Jan

Janice Lynne Lundy, DMin
Educator, Author and Interspiritual Guide