Supermoms’ and Superdads’ Defense Against “Holiday Kryptonite”

For my friend Mary (not her real name) every holiday season is predictable. She has her shopping list of gifts, grocery shopping list, a long list of errands to run, old friends to catch up with, parties to organize and attend, even a family to take care of. Inevitably, Mary gets burnt out, exhausted, and feels unappreciated. Ultimately, what was to be a wonderful happy holiday season ends up being a period of stress and anxiety that very nearly pushes Mary to the edge. Last year, after volunteering at her child’s school Mary rushed to get to a store before it closed. She was in such a hurry, she did not notice the car in front of her stopping short. It was a small fender bender, but the added stress  of the crash sent Mary to hospital for an anxiety attack that she thought to be a heart attack. This was a wakeup call for Mary that she needed to do something to save herself during the holiday rush.  

 

Every year, we all may face similar circumstances as Mary. We volunteer for things we do not have time for; we end up shopping at the last minute for that perfect gift; we even fight our way through the crowds at the stores only to end up burnt-out and exhausted, just like Mary. The holiday season is considered a time for joy and merriment but tends to slips past us as a storm of frustrations. At the end of December we end up bearing a load of resentment, high credit card bills and wishing for the “good old days” he had a long time ago.

 

There may not be a way to stop the flurry of activity, but there are some steps you can do to make today the “good old days” once again. All it takes is a small amount of planning and self care. Here are some tips to help protect you from the “holiday kryptonite”.

 

Plan rewards for yourself. These rewards can be goal oriented (e.g. If I get all of my posters hung today, I get the little lighted holiday necklace I wanted). Rewards can also be  non-goal oriented. They are “stress reliever” rewards – little bits of goodness you know and love. The best person that understands what you want and need is you. If you plan for your happiness, then you will more than likely get it. This is your opportunity to recognize that there will be stress, chaos, frustration, and even anger in the coming weeks. If you strategize now and plan your little escapes and releases, you will be able to survive the holiday season much easier.

 

Spend 15 minutes a day, just for yourself. Turn off the phones, maybe the TV, lock the door to your room or quiet place, even take a drive. Just do a little something for yourself each day that you enjoy doing. Do it every day! This gives you the attention you rightly deserve; a free moment to recoup your thoughts and room to breathe again. With all the wonderful things the holidays have to offer, the sights, sounds, and merriment, this is your chance to take a moment to just enjoy them.

 

Set aside a small amount of money as “fun money” that is only used for you. Make sure is not enough to cause any stress about loss of money (bills, grocery, etc.). This money can be used to buy yourself that little reward that you have planned for yourself. Make it fun, it can even be silly and nonsensical. All that matters is that it is just for you and that it is something that you enjoy.

 

Recognize if you are feeling needy. Sometimes a stressful moment, paired with a needy feeling can be cause for a reward; this would be your non-goal oriented reward. Recognize that your needs are important. Needs are the way our mind, body, emotions, and even spirit remind us of what is important to us. You already watch out for the needs of your family and friends, now is the time to turn that watchful eye inward to see what you need. Remember, if you are coming from a place of fulfillment and strength, then you are in a place where you can give more to loved ones. Recognizing and resolving your personal needs is one way of refueling and revitalizing yourself.

 

Remember that you are important. Everyone in your life is happy to have you for all the things you do, and for who you are. Take a moment to recognize that you really are a wonderful person. In the crazy holiday season we get caught up in the chaos of giving. Taking a moment to accept the fact that you are giving, that you are doing “all this” for others means you are a wonderful person. Wonderful people deserve to be recognized. This another cause to use your special non-goal oriented reward. Recognize you are wonderful because of all the things you are doing for others.

 

Get plenty of Sleep. With all the hustle and bustle going on, it may be hard to sleep. But sleep is when the body, heart and mind reset themselves, stress is reduced, and most of the body’s healing takes place. You may have thoughts and worries that pop into your mind as you are about to sleep. Do not ignore them or just push them away! If you try to ignore them they will come back in fury. Instead, take a moment to recognize and acknowledge the importance of the concerns coming to mind. Then talk to those concerns – yes, talk to them. Tell them that there is plenty of time, tomorrow, to work on resolving them. Right now, you need your sleep so you can be well rested and able to give them the proper attention they deserve – tomorrow. Anytime a new concern pops up, treat it just the same way. With a small amount of due diligence you should find yourself sleeping soundly; waking, in the morning, well rested and ready to tackle a new day.

 

Ask for help. Don’t be afraid to recognize when you need assistance. You are doing so much for other people, even taking time to recognize what you can do to help yourself and all of that can get overwhelming. This is when you need to check in with your needs and see if you need help. If you do, asking for help is the best way others can learn that you need something. Feel free to ask for help on shopping, running errands, setting something up, or anything else on your turbulent To-Do list. Most importantly, communicate that you are taking your rewards and that  your reward time is yours.

 

Mary is using many of these techniques, this year, and is finding that she is having a much better time than last year. She actually reported being able to smile after facing the crowds on the dreaded Black Friday. She simply gave herself the reward of a relaxing cup of hot coco and soft music because she made it through the day without a yelling at a fellow shopper. The thought of the relaxing moment was enough motivator to keep her spirits high and her emotions calm. Not to mention the after effects of the relaxing reward will have far reaching benefits for Mary for the rest of the holiday season.

 

The most important thing you can do for yourself and your loved ones this holiday season is to strategize your happiness. Take just a moment, now, to set up and declare the times and the things that are to be your rewards. In this moment you are taking, check in with yourself. What are you feeling needy about and what makes you feel good. Make a quick list of both your needs and your desires. Then set your rewards based on those lists. Be sure to take your rewards, as planned and when needed. Do something for yourself every day! If a reward goes unused, it may be a lost moment of potential happiness. This lost happiness is not just for you. It is a happiness that can easily be spread to loved ones, coworkers, and co-shoppers.

 

Take a moment, or several, this holiday season to enjoy the most important person in your life – YOU!

 

Happiness Rune Galdr

Here are three runes that can help you if you are feeling a bit sad, overwhelmed, frustrated, or just plain stressed. Hold these three runes in your hand. Think of all the happy things in your life, now. Then say, to yourself, “My happiness is returned to me, over and over, whenever I focus on it.”. This is their English Galdr (rune song). Carry these runes with you, maybe even in a little pouch. When you need a small diversion from the day, hold the runes and say the galdr. Eventually, you may not need the runes as you will carry their energy with you in their galdr song.

 

Try it, and let me know how it works for you.

Power Thoughts

Abundance Galdr

Here is a spontatiously created galdr for abundance.

I focused my attention on the ‘creation of abundance’, pulled three runes, and here is the outcome:

To use, post this somewhere where you will see it regularly. Say it to yourself 10 times, three times a day. If you have a set of runes, hold these three runes as you say it. Even carry those three runes with you, all day, to remind you of the work you are doing. The runes will work to align your spiritual being, the words will work to align your conscious and subconscious to be open to abundance.

hmmmm

…sorry nothing new for awhile. I am prepping for the booksigning this weekend. After that, I have quite a few ideas…

Have fun!

My Rune Altar

Radio Interview Friday Sept. 12th, 2008

Runes are powerful tools for transformation.

 

Runes bridge the gap between intention, sound healing, and quantum realities. Tune into this radio interview to uncover your most powerful tool for transformation.

 

All of this is in my new book “Runes for Transformation” – which we will be discussing  this Friday:

 

Here are the details:

 

     8 to 10pm EST

 

     http://www.justenergyradio.com/archive-pages/kolsen.htm

 

Thanks!

 

P.S. – More rune info at www.amongtherunes.com

Gebo and the Laws of Success

 

 

Five Laws of Success

 

The first law is the Law of Attraction: the energy and actions that we put out into the world is the energy and actions that we receive back. That is really what Karma is about. Our thoughts, feelings, and actions attract to us what we receive in the world. Outer reality does indeed mirror what is inside of us.

 

The second law is the Law of Intention: setting intentions, clearly and definitely are essential in creating lives that we truly enjoy. The more clearly that intentions are set, the more easily we can create them.

 

The third law is the Law of Celebration and Gratitude: cultivating an attitude of gratitude and counting your blessings creates the heart space for more blessings to come into your life.

 

 The fourth law is the Law of Receptivity: our ability to have a joyous and abundant life is only limited by our capacity to receive. It is important to increase your ability to receive.

 

The fifth law is the Law of Involvement: our lives are our responsibility. Do your own part. Involve yourself in the process of creating your life. Remember it is your life!

 

 

Occasionally, I contemplate these laws and see runic associations. What I find interesting is that for two of these Laws (1^st and 4^th) one rune fits both appropriately – Gebo.

 

Gebo is the rune for gifts and generosity. It reminds me of a couple of lines out of the Havamal (Norse Poetry – yes Viking types were renowned for composing poetry):

 

Better not to offer too much for a gift demands a gift

Better unsent then to send too much

 

There is so much that can be said about these two simple lines: everything from karma, to working with a cup that is full, to the way we interact with others. But those are thoughts for a different time. If you would like, add these lines of the Havamal into your contemplative practice to see what they mean to you – there is much wisdom in the Havamal.

 

For the purpose of this writing, the implications of the lines show the two-way nature of Gebo. Gebo reminds us that if we are generous enough to give, then someone must be generous enough to receive. This is a lesson that was hard learned for me. I once had a hard time accepting gifts and would make a bit of a fuss when I was gifted with anything. Then a whisperer reminded me that the perceived selfless act of the giver may be a way of that person increasing there “good karma” or reducing their “bad karma” – there is a complex Nordic fatalism system involved in the discussion with the whisperer, I just inserted more commonly understood words for the terms they used with me.

 

Ultimately stated, my openness to receive was a generous action towards the giver. When I was open to receive, it allowed the proper flow of energy so that friendship and all sorts of good energy could find a process flow. My hindering the giving process was a hindrance to all things.

 

There is a meditative practice here. Contemplate the First and Fourth laws. See and feel them as if you had a golden Gebo on your heart. This golden Gebo allows you to receive, just as it allows you to give – a two way street. It is your opening, of friendship, bonds, and all sorts of other good stuff with other people. Remember, if you allow yourself to receive, then you have more things in which you can give. It is the reverse of “a gift demands a gift”. Maybe the lesson of Gebo is “a gift received is a gift given”.

ALU Galdr

Shamanic Rune Drumming