BLUE AT THE HOLIDAYS? GO WITH IT AND TRANSFORM IT!

“Never deny the authenticity of your own experience.”
~ Bishop Yvette Flunder

I was fortunate. The holiday season, from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, was generally positive in my home and among my extended family, the usual minor disputes aside. The major losses of family members occurred at other times of the year.

When I became a police officer, I was exposed to people with different experiences of the holidays. Families who had experienced deep trauma or significant losses during that time of year (or any time), who were unable to celebrate the season and often created additional dysfunction.

Later on, in my ministry, I began to experience those who had been shunned or disowned by their families of origin and for whom the holidays were painful. I remember at the center in Fort Lauderdale, we used to do two services on holidays, one recognizing the holiday and one that did not.

Joseph Campbell wrote about the concept of “living joyfully in the sorrows of the world.” He meant that in a world where sorrow is a given (and it is), you can choose to live in joy.

“The field of time is the field of sorrow. ‘All life is sorrowful.’ And it is. If you try to correct the sorrows, all you do is shift them somewhere else. Life is sorrowful. How do you live with that? You realize the eternal within yourself. You disengage, and yet, reengage. You—and here’s the beautiful formula—’participate with joy in the sorrows of the world.’ You play the game. It hurts, but you know that you have found the place that is transcendent of injury and fulfillment. You are there, and that’s it.”
~ Joseph Campbell

Reflections on the Art of Living: A Joseph Campbell Companion

An important aspect of spiritual growth is to develop the emotional and spiritual muscle to live in the world in which we find ourselves. Recognizing our inner spiritual warrior, we are no longer victims; we are participants on our own terms to the degree that we are willing to realize our own innate power. Whatever your past, if you realize the metaphysical truth that Principle is not bound by precedent, you have choice as to the course of your future. I am not saying this is an easy thing to do, but it is something which can be done and has been done by many people.

We can use the Holiday Season as a lever to change the course of the coming year by changing our attitude and uplifting our self-concept. It doesn’t require a huge change, just a shift toward being more open to possibility. This renewal of consciousness is what New Thought teachings are all about; we change and grow throughout our lives.

You can create your own version of the holidays, one which serves you and which gives you the opportunity to serve others. Perhaps this means spending time with difficult family members, but being truly present for them, while denying them the power to disrupt your sense of being. If they are too toxic, avoid the contact, but hold them in love. Perhaps it means being alone on days when you are used to being in the company of others but using that time to immerse yourself in beauty and uplifting experiences – or just some really funny movies. Perhaps it means finding a place to volunteer to help others in your community. Perhaps it means a solo retreat in another location where you can be in nature for a few days.

Using the month of December to set intentions for the New Year is important and valuable. How you do this needs to be consistent with maintaining your well-being. Whether or not you choose to participate in traditional activities, design your holiday experience to support your vision for the New Year and hold yourself accountable for sticking to your plan. You will be glad that you did.

“We’re in a freefall into the future. We don’t know where we’re going. Things are changing so fast, and always when you’re going through a long tunnel, anxiety comes along. And all you have to do to transform your hell into a paradise is to turn your fall into a voluntary act. It’s a very interesting shift of perspective and that’s all it is… joyful participation in the sorrows and everything changes.”
~ Joseph Campbell

I hold for you a vision of a renewed, refreshed, and amazing 2024, knowing that the Power within you can overcome any seeming obstacle to your fulfillment. Much love to you!

As always, your comments are welcomed. Feel free to share this post with others who may be interested.

Copyright 2023 – Jim Lockard