Mental and Emotional Health Happiness and the Holidays
by Donna P. Mitchell

Mental and emotional health and happiness may be the biggest challenge for some of us during the holiday season. Minimizing stress, maintaining mental and physical health and really enjoying love ones and friends can be an exhilarating anticipation or a daunting cloud of doom and gloom.

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Whether our families, friends, significant others are loving and supportive or dysfunctional and hostile our state of mind and overall wellness will determine our outlook and enjoyment during this wonderful, spirit filled season. When we are at peace with the inner most part of our hearts, soul, and keep a joyful spirit, we should be able to look back at our lives with satisfaction, love and thanksgiving.

Getting caught up and fully absorbed, or being creative in avoiding the family rituals may also determine the success of a healthy happy holiday season. The family rituals depending on our memories may give a sense of pleasure or deep pain. For some there may have been a great loss of a love one or some other significant emotional event.

Sometimes in the interest of health and healing it may be necessary to embrace new rituals with new families and friends vs. repeating the past situations with the same outcomes and familiar pain. This is not to say we don't honor past relationships and rituals, we just find new ways to celebrate and respect them.

A life with faith, love, trust, integrity, and a forgiving heart will be the values necessary in becoming satisfied with self, health and life unconditional.

The below list are suggestions to help you and yours, from a mental health and emotional perspective, enjoy and not crash and burn during this holiday season:

• Most importantly remember self matters
• Forgive whatever was viewed as unforgivable
• Include meditation and prayer in your daily life
• Ease tension with your favorite type of exercises
• Do many acts of kindness for friends, family and strangers
• Don't be a workaholic as a way to avoid a situation or circumstances
• Use positive self talk, self actualization and visualization techniques
• If on medication for a mental health disease, take your medication on schedule
• Avoid particular people, places, and things if you are in recovery
• Don't risk relapse during the holidays for anything or anybody

If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, or high cholesterol maintain responsibility and control when it is time to eat, drink and be merry.

Health and happiness are some of the stepping stones to being complete and whole. The Lord, Jesus Christ needs us at our best and living our best life. So we are prepared for His glory, purpose, and love.

Happy Holidays!
Health, Happiness, and Love,

Donna

Donna is an inspirational and business development speaker. Areas include psycho-social issues, sales, marketing and customer service. She is currently a primary care pharmaceutical sales representative. Contact Donna at Donna4RealityChk@aol.com

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