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Find Holiday Magic

By Susan McNeal Velasquez
By Susan McNeal Velasquez

  The holiday card that I found the other day at the Laguna Colony Company on Forest Avenue said: “Christmas Therapy Group.” It pictured a caricature of a psychiatrist sitting in front of a semi-circle that included Santa, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Reindeer, and an Elf. The dialogue bubble over Santa’s head said, “I don’t believe in me.” Frosty said, “I think I’m bi-polar.” Rudolph said, “The other reindeers laugh and call me names,” and the Elf said, “I’m in a go-nowhere job.”

In case you have entered into this holiday season with your own personal worries, doubts and confusions weighing heavily on your shoulders, let’s take some time to unburden, let down, and let go of the heavy-handed treatment you may be using to keep yourself going, no matter what.

Imagine that you have a sack of boulders that is tied to your back, as though you are a pack-mule. In order to shift back to being a human, you need to get this huge weight off your back. Once you separate from it, you will notice that your body begins to straighten up and lighten up. Take a few deep breaths to begin the process of letting go of the knots of tension that are holding your nervous system hostage.

Now place yourself, in your mind’s eye, in a lush garden where you can sit on a bench placed under an ancient shade tree and rest for a bit. When you are ready, open the large canvas bag that contains both your current and your habitual boulders of discontentment, fear, seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and overwhelming challenges. In a moment, you are going to take each one out, examine it so that what it represents is clearly identified, and then make a decision about where you will plant this rock, within this garden setting.

You may decide to create a rock garden in a specific corner, or you might want to place each rock separately, near a tree, shrub, or flowerbed. Follow your instincts on the best way to empty out all of the boulders, while using them to create increased beauty in this imaginative place that you find yourself.

Empty out the entire contents of this well-worn canvas bag. You may find a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, from large gray and black boulders, all the way down to little pebbles. Give all of them your attention because they represent large problems, medium inconveniences, and small daily irritations and annoyances that continue to contribute to your sad and demoralizing attitudinal resemblance to a “beast of burden.”

These boulders will remain in this imaginary garden so that when it is necessary for you to face and handle what they represent, you can easily find them. The point here is to take this time to unburden your body, mind, and heart so that you can be open and receptive to your life and your loves once again.

When was the last time you took a break, let yourself off the hook, and lightened up? Imagine turning off your judging and categorizing, and turning on your sensing and perceiving, so that you can begin to let in the beauty around you.

Forget about making something happen “out there” for a moment. Instead, turn your attention inward. As you do, little by little, notice the subtle stirrings within. Begin to invite the experience of inner peace to the foreground of your mind.

Slowly, gently, and patiently begin the process of letting down, letting go, listening, gently opening to, and tenderly receiving the light of love, so that the wholeness of your heart’s affections are rekindled and renewed.

From this vantage point, the magic of the holiday season can begin to touch your heart and activate that part of your mind that houses the innocence, curiosity and wonder that is the essence of this magical time.

 

Susan writes and produces personal development seminars and is the author of “Beyond Intellect: Journey Into the Wisdom of Your Intuitive Mind.” Reach her at: susanvelasquez.com or: 949- 494-7773.

 

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