I know you are in a holiday mood already and reading serious stuff is the least focus, so let me be very brief this week, yet relevant.
A significant feature of New Year celebrations is the coming together and sharing. There is no better joy than re-uniting with people you know and love. And it is time to give and receive too.
The moment you think of giving or receiving what comes to mind is material gifts you can touch and feel. While it’s a nice thing to do, giving intangibles make more sense and help people beyond instant happiness you get when you receive or give a material gift. Life doesn’t end with one day’s celebrations. Life is short. We won’t get to celebrate too many traditional New Years like the one this week. How meaningfully can we spend this holiday season to make our lives better and help others to achieve the same for the long term?
Make enough time to spend with your family reflecting on ‘what went well’ and ‘what didn’t go well’ – prepare a list and ask the question why and figure out what changes are needed going forward to make higher percentage of activities work as envisaged. Such an informal & casual audit in line with the mood of the season will help you discover the new ways of doing the same old things better for greater results and figure out new focus areas for the family. It can range from your career to children’s education to making or giving up relationships.
Provide space for Happiness
We need new perspectives, insights, ideas and energy and motivation and time and lots of other intangible things that can’t be bought off the shelf. Happiness is in the hearts and minds of people not in materials. It shouldn’t limit itself to traditional holidays or statutory holidays. It can sometimes be found on the most ordinary of Mondays. Sometimes it just blows in like a swallow in December. Sometimes when you want it most you can’t have it. And sometimes you’re up to your elbows.
The holidays do NOT have to remain rigidly the same, year after year. By opening yourself up to change and letting go of traditions that have become too difficult or expensive, you afford yourself an opportunity to shape your holiday experience to reflect your current lifestyle and personality and learn something for the future.
Renew friendships & rejuvenate yourself
It’s what holidays are really about – the chance to properly renew friendships and spend long-overdue time finding out what’s going on in everyone else’s life. So a gathering of friends is always a nice surprise to spring on someone. The holiday season is typically a time when extended family members spend more time together. Leaving normal routines, hectic travel, and decreased personal space can all lead to conflict with the family members you ironically, want to enjoy.
Offer and receive feedback - exchange ideas – mentor others or be mentored by someone who has something to offer you. There is no better opportunity than the holiday season to interact with people with an open mind. Enjoy doing what you like to do but also find time to try what I have advocated. I’m sure you will discover new ways of improving your life while helping the others with your new insights. This would offer sustainable happiness vs. a gift offering an instant happiness. Good balance between the two may be a good start.
Celebrate New Year and enjoy the holidays safely and meaningfully. When you get back to the work place after the holidays be determined to make a fresh start with renewed enthusiasm to ‘PLAY TO OUTPERFORM’.