This month we celebrate Thanksgiving and here at The Wonder Woman Challenge we are actively cultivating an attitude of gratitude.  Gratitude certainly comes easier to some than others, but regardless, when we are under high levels of stress it is harder to focus on gratitude.  Whatever we are stressing over becomes our focus and I know for me I can go into an obsession mode in my thoughts.

Having said that I believe, though, that we can control our thoughts.  It may not always be easy but, yes, we do have the ability to take control over our minds and our thoughts.

Today I am feeling stressed and I am having a hard time focusing on anything but my stress.  I decided to take my mind captive and in doing say I needed to set the atmosphere for my mind to make the change so that I could work.

I immediately tidied up my work space, made a cup of tea using a pretty tea cup, lit candles, and put on soft music.  Why?

First of all the candles and soft music relax me inside and out.  Secondly, this type of atmosphere is beautiful to me and beauty is a core value that touches my spirit.  It is like a sweet balm to my spirit.  And third, I pulled out Rescue Remedy, a flower essence that I take internally to calm me down.

Just as I have challenged the followers here at The Wonder Woman Challenge to cultivate an attitude of gratitude in a fun creative way,  I am cultivating my own attitude of gratitude by keeping a journal, at least at this point. I do have some other ideas floating in my mind that are not fully developed yet, but for now journaling is what I need.

So after setting the scene, I then got out my gratitude journal and began to jot down things that I am thankful for.  Do you remember the quote by Joe Vitale about gratitude in the last post,” Add Gratitude & Stir”?  Take a look if you don’t remember, but know that gratitude can be a very powerful tool in our lives!

Are you feeling stressed out today?  Are you having trouble focusing on the tasks at hand?  Take a few minutes to bring calmness to your spirit and enter an attitude of gratitude.  It doesn’t have to be anything grand … just something simple.  And, I invite you to share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Remember, 15 minutes a day in a self-nurture activity is all it takes to begin to fill your cup with joy, which is exactly what I did today.

1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Style

©By Sharon Jaynes

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family – I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family – I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family – it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of your way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails.  Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust.  But giving the gift of love will endure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Used by permission, this poem was taken from “Celebrating a Christ Centered Christmas”by Sharon Jaymes

To learn more visit www.sharonjaynes.com

So you want to indulge in a treat … after all, this is the time of year where there are sweets and treats around every corner.  This is also the time of the year when stress is higher than normal as discussed in my last article, “Avoid the Holiday Meltdowns”.  With stress often comes over eating and/or binge eating.

I want to share a little trick I use to help curtail this kind of binge eating.  Keep in mind that this “trick” I use does not address the root problem.  That will be saved for another article.  This really isn’t even a trick at all but more of a special treatment.

What I want to share with you today allows you to indulge in a healthier way that, if done properly with the right mindset, can actually be a self-care activity. It’s very simple and fun.

Decide on a treat that you really want.  Don’t be mindless about it.  For example I made Pumpkin Cream Cupcakes the other night.  Oh my goodness!  They are so good! (I’ve included the recipe below.) They remind me of the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins from Starbucks, which I love.  I could easily eat several in one setting if I’m not careful, so to avoid that kind of a binge eating I create “a moment”.

As you can see in the picture above, I created a beautiful holiday setting for eating one (not two, three or even four!) Pumpkin Cream Cupcake. I watched a holiday movie in this setting but sometimes I will play soothing music or sneak away to a quiet place in the house.

A very important aspect of this activity is to be in the moment and use your five senses while indulging in the treat.  Talk about an enjoyable stress reliever!  It feels very special because it is!  It sends a very nurturing message to yourself that you care enough to not binge on your favorite treat while meeting your need to de-stress in a more delightful healthier way.

The next time you feel a binge coming on due to stress or any other reason, allow yourself to indulge in a small treat if you like but create a special moment that tickles your senses.  You will be quite surprised with the results!

Pumkin Cream Cupcakes

From Food & Family Kraft Magazine

www.kraftfoods.com

1 pkg (2-layer size) spice cake mix

1 pkg (3/4 0z) Jell-O Vanilla Instant Pudding

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 pkg (8 oz.) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare cake batter as directed on package.  Add dry pudding mix and and pumpkin; mix well.  Spoon into 24 paper-lined muffin cups.

Beat cream cheese with mixer until cream.  Blend in sugar and egg; spoon over batter.  Swirl gently with small spoon.

Bake 18 to 21 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean.  Cool 5 minutes; remove to wire racks.  Cool Completely.

Special Extra:  Stir 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg into 1 1/2 cups thawed Cool Whip; spread over cooled cupcakes.  Keep refrigerated.

There’s a lot going on at this time of the year as we get ready for Christmas.  Stress is at an all time high … wouldn’t you say?  Life is crazy enough but then when you add the holiday “stuff” on top of an already busy schedule?  It spells … m-e-l-t-d-o-w-n!

Ok, girlfriends, how do we avoid the holiday meltdowns this year?!

First of all, stop wherever you are in your holiday preparations and celebrations and think about what you want Christmas to be for you and your family.  Certainly you don’t want it to be all about stress and meltdowns.  I know that my family does not want me to be irritable, resentful, and miserable during a time that is supposed to be about family, love, and celebrations. They told me so many years ago.  It was then that I began to scale down and slow down so that I could enjoy the beautiful season that it is.

Forget the picture perfect Christmas.  Choose one or two things that are most important and focus on those things.  Do you really need a million different kinds of homemade cookies?  No!  Does your house need to look like something out of a magazine?  No! Seriously, keep it all simple so that you can devote the time you do have to those you love in a way that will create beautiful, fun memories.

That takes me to you.  You know how it goes … “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!”  Let’s keep mama happy during this holiday season.  What do you need to do to make that happen?

Yes, scale down the preparations and celebrations.  But also keep up with your self-care activities.  You only need 15 minutes a day – that alone makes such a big difference.  But ya know what? If you need to shut the world out for a while, do so.  Watch your favorite movie, read a book, take a long nap, a bubble bath or whatever you need to do to restore.  These little things make all the difference in the world!

Avoid the holiday meltdowns this year by simplifying and taking a little time to de-stress.  It’s the best Christmas gift you can give to your family and yourself!

Do share your own thoughts and ideas in the comment section below.

Art is a fabulous self-nurture tool. I am not particularly talented but had a blast taking lessons. I found it to be very therapeutic.

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It’s the holidays. We are smack dab in the middle of the most wonderful time of the year, right? Hmm, if it’s so wonderful then why are so many stressed to the max and wishing for it all to be over as soon as possible?

No doubt, as women, the holidays put many extra demands on our already maxed out life. We can become anxious, angry, bitter, resentful, scared, worried, exhausted, (fill in the blank) to the point that we end up lashing out to those we love and care about the most. Then we get to add to that wonderful list of feelings guilt and shame to name a few. What fun!

Any amens out there?? Ok, it’s time to get off this stress filled ride and hop on the train leading to a more joy filled holiday — even with Christmas just 9 days away.

“The Joy In Christmas” is a workshop I facilitate to help women discover what it is that’s most important to them in order to experience a more joy filled Christmas. The following are a few of the questions we discuss:

1. What is it that you are celebrating?
2. What do you really want out of Christmas?
3. What is the difference between your fantasy Christmas and your reality Christmas?
4. What one thing from your fantasy Christmas is feasible to do? Let go of the rest.
5. How can you live in the present in order to enjoy all the special things about this time of year?

Basically it’s about taking inventory of your holiday celebration. Know where you are so you know where you need/want to go. Then let go of all the shoulda, coulda, woulda’s that plague us and weigh us down. Just let it all go!

Next, it’s vitally important that you take care of yourself so that you can give to those in your life. You must take the time to eat well, get a little exercise, and rest. I know there are lots of things on your to-do list but you will get more done if you’re rested and feeling good about yourself. Take a walk, read a book, take a candle-lit bubble bath, etc. – whatever you enjoy doing, do it even if it’s just for 15 minutes.

Celebrating Christmas takes a little different form for all of us. It’s the time of year to take a break from the mundane and enjoy all the beautiful sites, sounds, and smells. This year let it be different. Take each day as it comes with the commitment of focusing on and creating love and joy. Remember, what you think about comes about.