Each year
around the holiday season, I get many calls for therapy
appointments. The stress of the holidays can be overwhelming
to many of us. Somehow we loose ourselves in the chaos and
pressures of holiday shopping. We get swept up by all the
ads in the media seducing us into buying items for others
and ourselves that suddenly we feel that we cannot do
without. Children are very affected by the media and many
feel that if they do not get that new version of X-Box they
will not survive. So as a result we begin to feel powerless
in the face of needing to have and buy things. We have lost
touch with our higher self, the place where we connect to
our divinity.
How can
we get back to ourselves and the true meaning of a giving
spirit? We know deep in our hearts that buying our children
all the items they ask for and getting swept up into the
turmoil is not good for them…but we still do it. In essence
we are teaching them to measure their value on what they
own. How do we begin to break this cycle? Using Emotional
Freedom Techniques to overcome the urge that we feel might
serve our self worth by over purchasing can be very
effective. We might begin with statements such
as:
Even
though I feel pressured into spending money on items we
really do not need I still completely love and accept
myself.
Then follow
with tapping on the tapping points with the statements, this
urge and continue tapping twice through. If other feelings
come up begin tapping on those. For example:
Even
though I was taught that my self worth was a result of what
I own, I still completely love and accept myself… followed
by repeating my self worth, my self worth, etc.
The options
here are endless but as more and more aspects come up tap on
them Be sure to give the anxiety around the issue a number
on the scale of one to ten and tap on that item until you
can get it down to a low number or even a zero.
There are so
many people who do need food, shelter, and basic survival
items. Talking to your family and friends about giving to
others that are in need might be a great way to break old
patterns. Many people may really appreciate you giving to
their favorite charity in their name as a gift. It is also a
great model to set for children. In the past two years, I
have been giving to the Heifer Foundation. This organization
allows you to buy animals to be given to poor villages and
communities around the world so that they can begin to farm
or market their goods and empower then to make a living. For
example, you can buy a chicken for a family who can then
begin to sell the eggs for income. There are many choices,
such as bees, llamas, pigs, etc. You can give as much or
what will fit into your budget by contributing to buy part
of an animal which collectively will result in the purchase
of the animal to be given to a family. For more information
please go to, http://www.heiferfoundation.org/.
We all
deserve abundance on every level in our lives, whether it is
an abundance of love, health and even money. But when having
to have things contribute to our feeling good about
ourselves that's when things begin to break down. It's just
a fix and is not long lasting. I hope your holidays are
filled with love, health and abundance in ways that serve
your higher self well. Now that's long
lasting!
Warmly,
Lynne
/
December/January 
