Does it serve you?
The cold months are a great time for reflection. Cooler weather discourages us from lengthy time outdoors. The end of the year may leave us feeling introspective as we contemplate a new calendar year.
The holiday season can also be fraught with tension. We’re likely trying to do too much and fit in visits with too many people in a short span of weeks. We may feel a bit tired or raw emotionally and the folks we interact with probably feel that way, too.
The interactions which result may not always be what we might hope. If we have tense encounters with family, friends, or coworkers, we may struggle to reconcile our feelings with our concept of appropriate holiday spirit.
Here is where the naturally reflective mindset of the time of year can help us. If we find ourselves reacting emotionally in negative way, a few quick questions might help us recover and benefit.
“Is this what I want to be doing?”
“Why do I feel the need to react in this way?”
“Am I willing to try doing something else?
“What else might I choose to do instead?”
Being an observer of our behavior can help us get out of the emotional stew in which we find ourselves. Answering the questions shifts our focus from feeling bad to problem solving mode. We can move forward in a new way.
Today’s message suggests I might benefit from being less reactive and more of a problem solver. When I use difficult interactions as incentive to change my habitual behavior, I am winning at life.
Please reflect and share. Are you willing to observe your interactions to spur personal growth?