Financial Consultant, Trainer and Speaker on Psychology of Money, Financial Counseling for Couples

In order to create a holiday that money can’t buy, you might have to throw out your “mindset” of how Christmas “should be.” If you “checked in” with your inner guidance system, your “gut,” rather than your head, what kind of holiday would you create? What would you create if you threw guilt and conformity out the window? What would you create to bring in more joy, light and relaxation?

We each have a “past.” When it comes to the holiday, some try to re-create the past (because we enjoyed the tradition and merriment our parents created for us) and some try to create what we wished our past would have been.

Either way, it’s important to make conscious choices during this time of year. It’s important to take control of the season and create the holiday you desire rather than allow the season to control you and your choices. For example, if the only way you can buy presents for others is to go into debt, ask yourself if this is worth it. If giving to others, hurts you, that’s not healthy giving. Instead, be creative in your giving so that it is a win-win for the giver and receiver.

Ask yourself how you want to spend your time and energy, which is really no different than the decision making process you use when spending your money. 

My ideal Christmas is one I spend with my husband and our dogs, Sadie and Kiska! We will most likely take an early morning hike by the ocean and return home for a good breakfast. We’ll connect with our parents and siblings back east. Then the rest of the day we will spend with friends. Maybe at the end of our day, we’ll pop in one of our favorite holiday movies!

I wish you a Christmas that’s conscious and creative…one that brings you joy, contentment and an honoring of self.