Screw the Scrooge Behavior and Let’s Make the World Shine!
3 Tips to Help You Get That Special “Cheer Factor” Going So You Can Spread It and Maintain It!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!!
I’m so glad you are joining me today! Let’s talk about one of my most favorite holidays…Christmas!
First, let me give you a huge thank you for taking the time to read and absorb this article. I hope it can help you to be of good CHEER no matter what’s going on in or around your world.
I think we all genuinely want to wake up and be in a good mood but nowadays find it’s a huge challenge. We have a lot of adversity and turbulence going on in our world today. I feel like a lot of us look like a zombie or wear a scowl.
When we think of this time of year some of us think of the old black and white holiday movies such as “Miracle on 34th Street”, “A Christmas Carol”, and of course Bing Crosby in “White Christmas”.
Some of the other generations might recall, “Frosty the Snowman”, “Santa Clause is Coming To Town”, “A Year Without a Santa Clause”, “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, and many others.
No matter what era you were born in, the holidays have their special traditions and activities that lend to the cheer of the season.
A special song, a favorite food, a sweet treat, a savored family recipe, or even that special ornament you hang. All of those cherished things bring warmth to our hearts, and that’s exactly what we’ll use to focus on, in order to gain that jolly “cheer factor”.
Our senses play such an important part in our everyday lives, and at this time of year they’re heightened and going berserk. So many things are hitting on those receptors, not to mention the emotions that they’re stimulating.
Let’s dive into just what our senses experience this time of year.
The smells of cinnamon and spice, or eggnog with a sprinkle of nutmeg are just a couple, but they evoke a special warm and fuzzy feeling in our heart.
Personally, I love those holiday spices, but I adore smelling sweet potatoes baking too.
Memories of bygone days when mom or Grandma would cook a turkey with stuffing, or maybe a ham with a pineapple brown sugar glaze on top. YUM! These bring a sweet feeling that envelopes your body and makes you feel happy.
(OK, all of us hear that growl coming from our stomachs now right? Please excuse the drool!)
From boughs of holly to pine trees, vanilla and the various spices, or the fresh crisp air of a newly fallen snow, these are some of those special things that nurture our “CHEER FACTOR”.
For me, it’s the smell that sneaks out from my great-grandmother’s china hutch that reminds me of her house during the holidays. I love it!
So what do we do? Well, all of the things we just discussed are the ammo for our “RECIPE FOR CHEER”
POSITIVE MEMORIES + HOLIDAY SMELLS + HOLIDAY EATS = CHEERY SUCCESS AND A MORE POSITIVE AND UPLIFTING ATTITUDE
OK, so let’s get into this!
If we’re all honest with ourselves, everyone right now has something going on in their lives, some good and some bad. With all of the self-help articles, techniques and methods, it can be overwhelming to even begin to tackle trying to be cheerful. But we’ll tackle this together, because CHEER is important!
First Point: Positive Memories
All of us have had holidays that might not have been ideal or in some instances very tragic. This exercise is to recollect the positive ones on purpose and use that as our focal point. Take a moment and try to recall those very special memories that bring about a warm feeling in your heart and pick one to focus on. Once you have that thought, GRAB IT AND HOLD ON! Write it down if you have to.
ONE DOWN AND TWO MORE TO GO!
Second Point: Holiday Smells
Not everyone will have the same liking so you must reflect on those smells that truly impact YOU. Those scents that create a feeling of loveliness and security or perhaps those emotions that bring a smile and feel like a warm hug. Some just bring a sense of peace and calm.
Find it, and once again just HOLD ON TO IT. As a reminder, write it down if ya have to…post-its are good too.
(I cant have enough post-its, haha)
You are doing awesome, you’re gaining a little more CHEER already right? I hope so!!! You really will begin to have a lighter spirit about you.
OK so onward to the next point.
Third Point: Holiday Dish*
Oh my goodness, this is a huge subject with food being such an important factor and so vital in most celebratory activities for us.
With that said let’s really try to hone in on that ONE special holiday food item that makes your mouth water and fills you with goosebumps, excitement, and overwhelming joy as we recall the memories that attach themselves to it.
It’s that one particular recipe/food that gives you such a ginormous amount of the warm fuzzies, even to the extent that when you feel full you hate to quit eating it because it allows that memory to fade away from you. It’s the one food you want to keep eating so you can keep reliving the emotions it creates, bringing them back to life.
Once again just take hold of the thought and the memories that wrap themselves around it.
Now, let’s review the 3 objectives we had to discover on our “CHEER MISSION”.
Recall one special (positive) memory
Recall one special holiday smell
Recall one special holiday dish
Remember the answers you found regarding your three points and be sure you’ve written them down. Take a moment to kind of toss them around in your head. Experience the emotions as you’re thinking of them and the wonderful memories they stir up in you.
Do they give off a positive vibe?
Do you feel a sense of excitement? Calmness? Peace? Happiness?
The positivity and warmth of the memory will be used to uplift you and evoke a CHEERFUL mindset in you.
So when this time of year brings about a gloomy attitude or one that resembles Ebenezer Scrooge, think of this little exercise.
Find that positive memory that’s special!
Get that special “power smell” in your mind!
Think about those special memories that are behind that
recipe/food item/holiday dish!
Use the answers from all of these to gain an attitude of CHEER and rekindle your heart with the warmth of the season!
We all must gain a new perspective and be proactive in finding those things that’ll support our inner strengths, as well as those things that are positive and lovely to think upon. These will help us to launch ourselves into being more joyful people.
Take those amazing thoughts and images, go out and spread some CHEER! Although our world seems so foreign in some ways right now, let us each do our part in making not just our own world better, but also by taking the time to brighten up another persons day. Each of us can shine the light that we carry and sprinkle some CHEER in their world too!
May the blessing of the season lighten your spirit, fill your heart, and drench you with the promise of peace and strength.
*(I must interject that as a former obese person, I’ve had to analyze those triggers that cause me to have an unhealthy balance with certain foods. I’ve had to learn my limits regarding controlling portions for those things I enjoy eating, as well as acknowledge the feelings behind those food items. I will do another article at a later date on my journey to overcome obesity. Stay balanced with your thoughts and emotions regarding that particular food item if it causes you to overindulge unhealthily. Balance and portion control is also key. So for those of you who have had any type of food addiction or are currently on that journey, please be mindful as this little exercise is not to set you back or make you stumble. I want you to succeed in having a healthier mindset towards those triggers regarding food. This can be used as a help in identifying those things that are triggers, then they can be mindfully dealt with and confronted so that those foods can be enjoyed in moderation and be in balance.)
