Christmas time is indeed a joyous season, but is it really true for everyone? Most people will agree that payday is a good day, and it is actually so great that we dread the traffic of payday Fridays. On the other hand, I know some struggling entrepreneurs that dread every payday. What are the reasons Christmas may not be so merry for other people? Perhaps this would be the case when someone is suffering from a case of terminal illness, losing a loved one, being a victim of a crime or injustice, facing bankruptcy or losing a job, and so many other situations that make us depressed or sad.
I have personally gone through many of these unfortunate situations during Christmas time and could have easily spiraled down into the abyss. However, I chose not to give up, and I tried to find ways to overcome my difficult moments. First and foremost is to realize that as long as you are still breathing and alive, all is not lost! Just being able to read this column is already good news! It means you are still alive, you can see and you can read! Waking up every day is a blessing in itself, more so if you can get up on your own. Christmas time tends to be the darkest moment for those in pain, trouble or need because of the stark contrast they see with the general population in their cheerful holiday spirit.
Your objective is to make the best of every situation, even the most dire ones. Explore all your alternatives. Perhaps even consulting or asking help from your friends and relatives could lead to solutions that you would never have found on your own. Keeping an open mind and a positive attitude is a fertile ground for resolving conflicts and problems. This also reminds me of the saying, “you reap what you sow.” Think of all the good things you have done in this world and the people you have helped. You need to do this not because you want to cash in on all your good deeds but to make you feel good about yourself and realize that you are worth something, and draw from that.
Be thankful for the many things we take for granted. Instead of thinking of what you don’t have, think of what you have. Instead of thinking of the many problems you have, think of the many problems you don’t have. When you are down, think of this as a golden opportunity to identify your true friends, people who you can count on when the chips are down. This is also an opportunity to determine your resilience, strengths and weaknesses. It may be difficult to comprehend this at a time when you are in the middle of a crisis, but this will pass and learn from this experience so that next time something bad happens, you will be better prepared.
Christmas is indeed a time to rejoice and be thankful for all the good things in our lives. However, this is also a time to reflect on the negative things that have happened to us and learn how we could avoid these in the future. So is it a Merry Christmas for everyone? I certainly hope so! Merry Christmas!
Comments may be sent to georgechuaph@yahoo.com.