| Increasing Your Christmas Presence |
Increasing Your Christmas Presence‘Are you more focused on your Christmas presents than on your Christmas Presence?'It is December, Christmas season, a time when people devote a lot of time, thought and effort into the preparation and giving of Christmas presents. While everybody is rushing around in their hunt for the perfect gift, it is interesting to sit back and have a look at how much attention we also give to our ‘Christmas Presence'. So what do I mean by the giving of ‘Christmas Presence'? Have you ever seen someone so focused on getting everything perfect - the food just right and the gifts all perfectly wrapped, that when Christmas day arrives, they are so preoccupied getting everything done that by Christmas night, they feel exhausted and empty, almost dazed. So focused on creating the perfect day, they didn't allow themselves to really be present, enjoying the moment for any part of Christmas. They missed it. When the kids were all excited in the morning, they were focused on getting the turkey in the oven. When the family arrived, there was no time to chat as the desert was still to be made. And so it goes on. By not being present, we can miss the miracle of the moments, the miracle moments that are there for us. It can be easier in many ways to focus on external things such as the giving of presents, and miss the gold that comes when we give the gift of our presence. Really we all get to choose what is more important to us. Being present is an experience where you are at peace with who you are, regardless of what other people are doing or what situation you are facing. It is where you have your attention in this moment. Once you become aware of the thoughts, feelings or moods you are having, or where your attention is, you will begin to notice how much time you are spending in the past and in the future. One of the most noticeable characteristics of being present is the feeling of contentment you experience. You feel relaxed and at ease, connected to who you are and who you are with. Your visions and plans become clear and what you are doing is easily achieved, without second-guessing yourself or others. Being ‘present' matters because you perform better and feel good along the way. How well do you perform when you feel nervous? How wise and compassionate are you when you feel irritated? How bright and creative are you when you feel stressed out? Nervousness, irritation and stress are caused by thoughts about the past or the future - what might happen, what someone did to you... and so on. The greatest gift you can give is the gift of your presence. As the Christmas season unfolds and you allow resentment of the past and the worry or fear of a future uncertainty to dissolve, you are left free to enjoy this present moment, in whatever shape or form it may come. When you give the gift of your presence, you will notice that those around you feel heard and appreciated and your experiences of love and joy will become heightened. Wishing you a Merry Christmas, and every joy as you give the gift of your Christmas Presence! Carol Goddard © Carol Goddard 2008 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Carol Goddard is an Australian author and presenter, a reminder of who we are. Carol's offering is her Open Heart and the Deepening Remembrance of her own Essence, Carol offers programs both locally and globally. Please visit www.CarolGoddard.net NOTE: You're welcome to "reprint" this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the "about the author" info at the end). |