Keeping it simple this silly season!
You don’t have to make things more complicated than they are.
It’s only 5 weeks until Christmas and this time of year often comes with more social gatherings than normal. Social gatherings can ignite the disease of “keeping up with the Joneses”. Going to a social event can be stressful especially if you have been asked to bring something.
- “Can you bring that awesome cheesecake you made last year?” (In your mind you’re thinking, ‘Really!? That cheesecake… the one that takes 2 days to make?! – I haven’t got time for that!’)
- “You’ll be OK to provide some delicious snacks won’t you?” (‘Delicious?… I know what that means? That means I have to slave over the stove for days making sure I have something for everyone! Dairy free, gluten free, sugar free, nut free…. but make sure it’ll be delicious!‘)
(I’m not sure if you can “hear” this in your own mind as you read, but these kinds of things bring stress to my life… but why?…. For me, it’s all about what my self-talk is… My self-talk is often all about making sure I’m keeping people happy… I think I have to provide the best food possible and that invokes anxiety in me and I think I have to do it the same way as “Mrs Jones”…
But you know what?… I don’t.
This is where increasing self-compassion is so important. I need to choose to be kind to myself, to let myself off the hook and keep it simple.
I can arrive at this social event with the best chocolate Tim Tams ever or a few packets of chips I picked up on the way! I don’t need to be in the kitchen for 2 days before, preparing the food that I think everyone will want, when I’m sure they just want to catch up and spend time together…
It’s in these moments that we need to dig deep and show up in our authenticity and be present with those around us.
Here’s your reminder to keep it simple.
Have a think about what events you have coming up where you can remind yourself to keep it simple? What food do you enjoy cooking or are the easiest things to take to social gatherings and make them your go-to contribution for all the events. Or even more, simply buy something to take… and keep it simple.
This time of year is often way more stressful than we need to make it and yet it seems to be our default.
Be kind to yourself. Keep it simple. Embrace this time of year and look for ways to slow down and be present with those around you.
You matter! Take care on the journey!
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Image by vivienviv0 from Pixabay