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We live in an age of overwhelm and overload. It’s easy to be paralyzed by choices and feel lost in confusion. The world has become loud, noisy, and increasingly more intrusive.

Being true to ourselves has never been more challenging.

Who are you? What do you stand for? What do you stand against? What do you believe to be true about yourself and the world?

Here are some steps to reconnect with your authentic self in a world that tells you daily who you should be and what you should believe.

Curiosity 

Self-discovery begins with becoming curious about yourself and your life.

What are you passionate about?

What brings you joy?

What gives you a sense of fulfillment?

Explore all the different parts of your desires, interests, and personality. 

Be Present Without Judging Yourself 

It’s hard to connect with your authentic self when you dwell on the past or live in the future and judge yourself for how you feel, the mistakes you’ve made, or missed opportunities.

Take a few minutes to be alone, breathe, and root yourself in the present moment without judgment or self-criticism.

Observe your thoughts, emotions, and situation without attaching self-defeating or disempowering labels.

Accept yourself; be kind and compassionate.

Be your own best friend in this moment – be supportive of yourself!

Why? This quality of self-reflection deepens self-awareness, connecting you to your authentic self.

Values 

So many people are lured into chasing other people’s values.

Step back from the crowd and turn off your devices to protect yourself from the thousands of marketing messages that interrupt your life every day, telling you what you should buy, wear, believe, and be.

Ask yourself: What do I value—what’s most important to me? Is it honesty, integrity, family and friends, health, material wealth, faith, and connecting with God? 

Remember, your values and beliefs change as you mature and grow wiser. What was important to you five years ago might not be today.

Passions

When was the last time you thought about your passions?

What makes you feel alive? What energizes you? What feeds your soul with a sense of fulfillment?

It could be a cause, a hobby, a creative pursuit, or making a difference in the world through your faith community.

Explore your passions because they give you valuable insights into who you are at your core.

Confront Fear 

You can only unlock your best life once you face your fears and limiting beliefs.

What fears are keeping you from being you?

What beliefs aren’t serving you well?

What compromises are sabotaging your hopes and dreams?

Journal 

A journal is a safe space for you to record your thoughts, feelings, and experiences and see how you’re growing and progressing in life.

It reveals emotional and behavioral patterns, giving you deeper insights into your true self. This private space gives you permission to express yourself without fear of judgment. 

Strengths and Weaknesses 

What are your strengths and weaknesses? As difficult as it might be, this should be an objective process.

When do you feel strong?

When do you feel weak?

What do you embrace?

What do you avoid?

Ask people who love you and want to see you succeed what they see as some of your strengths and weaknesses.

Final Thoughts 

Connecting with your authentic self is an exciting journey. So, get curious, be fully present, spend time in non-judgmental self-reflection, explore your passions, and confront your fears to uncover your true self and finally unlock your best life.

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You can drift through life or sail through life. The difference is that one is aimless and undefined, and the other has a purpose and has direction.

Life is challenging. There will be rough water. Pray for wisdom and batten down the hatches to navigate life’s storms, but never stop believing in yourself; trust the journey. 

Gain confidence from your faith in the One guiding you as you sail into uncertainty on the open sea. 

Let Go So You Can Sail

One of the biggest lessons that sailing through life can teach you is found in the art of letting go. 

You can only sail once you release the anchor. 

What’s keeping you from moving forward? What’s anchoring you? 

What do you need to let go of?

Do you need to let go of some fears, habits, attachments, or dreams that have become too small to start your voyage? 

Give yourself permission to let go of past traumas, release yourself from external expectations, and let go of the need for control. 

Control and comfort are two anchors that hold people back from sailing toward their dreams and a life of love and happiness.  

Start letting go of the weight of trying to control the things you can’t control because that mindset is an anchor that keeps you from growing and hinders your ability to adapt. 

Let go of the need to feed your comforts. There’s nothing wrong with relaxing and being comfortable. But comfort can become a nest that turns into a prison. Nothing great ever happened within the comfy confines of comfort. 

Remember, you’re in charge of the sails. So when life throws an unexpected storm in your path, adjust your sails and navigate accordingly.

And when you’re nearing the doldrums of comfort, catch the wind and sail away by choosing a more adventurous and fulfilling course. 

Use whatever you face along your journey to grow personally and spiritually as you master the seas of your life. 

The Beauty of Life 

Storms are temporary. Bask in the calm waters when the sea is serene. And celebrate life’s joys when things are tranquil. 

Change is inevitable.

Storms will come and go. You will have balmy days and billowy days. 

 Embrace both.

Take the wheel and learn to navigate every storm with resilience. Use the challenge to unlock your inner capabilities. Realize everything you face is an opportunity to grow, strengthening your faith and courage.  

So many stay anchored where they are because they don’t believe they have the skills to sail beyond the harbor.

You have the skills and what it takes to navigate life’s biggest challenges. So embrace the journey and enjoy the moments, especially the calm, sunny ones, so you may live life to the fullest. 

Final Thoughts 

On larger ships, a crew is needed to sail the ship. They work together to get the job done. So remember to appreciate your support network and social connections; if you trust them, they can help you thrive. Being a solitary captain is lonely; navigating the seas alone is perilous. Stay connected. 

As you navigate the seas of life, you will encounter giant waves, but you’ll have a lot more calm water than turbulent water. To make things go as smoothly as possible, let go of toxic attachments, embrace change, trust the process, and steer your life toward growth and fulfillment. 

There is strength in letting go, not weakness. 

Chart your course and trust the journey as you sail through the natural ebbs and flows of life – – your adventure will be remarkable, but only if you let go, trust, and enjoy the journey. 

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The holiday songs we hear on the radio and store speakers as we shop say this is the most wonderful time of the year, the happiest season of all. And, for many people, it is!

The Wonderland Escape

Just look at all the colorful decorations that delight our senses and delicious food that reminds us of special memories. We enjoy crisp air, cozy sweaters, fires, and cheerful music. It’s no wonder people can’t wait for the holidays for a break from life!

The holidays let us escape from our daily realities of being overwhelmed, stressed, and busy to celebrate life and enjoy good food and laughter with family and loved ones!

For a few days in December, our souls can rest.

Holiday Stress

However, the holidays can be one of the most stressful times of the year because of the added activities and responsibilities piled onto our already busy schedule.

What started as Happy Holidays becomes a grueling marathon to the finish line.

And the holidays don’t pause for stressful events, either. Illnesses, injuries, strained relationships, money problems, or adjusting to massive changes aren’t put on hold so Santa can make his list and check it twice to see who’s been naughty or nice.

The happiness of the holidays can collide with sadness and devastating loss. Managing the holidays while dealing with setbacks and disappointments can be painful and tricky.

Hallmark Magic…

Here’s the good news: the holidays don’t have to wear you out physically or emotionally. And even if you love Hallmark Christmas movies (and who doesn’t), you don’t have to experience the Hallmark Channel version of the holidays for your Christmas to be magical.

Your Christmas

You can still decorate, host family, cook, entertain, and enjoy the season. It’s possible to embrace the hope and true meaning of the season while simultaneously managing significant loss.

Your holidays might not look like anyone else’s; it’s okay if what fills your holidays with hope and joy doesn’t look like what others are experiencing.

Give yourself the gift of focusing on your unique needs and creating a holiday that makes the most sense under your circumstances.

Gifts For You

Here are a few more gifts to give yourself while you’re at it: let go of guilt, unrealistic expectations, toxic fantasies, and illusions; unburden your heart and soul of all the “should haves” and “if only” chatter in your mind.

Perhaps a good place to start is with forgiving yourself and others.

Forgiveness

The angel told Mary to name her son “Jesus” because He would save His people from their sins. That sounds like forgiveness to me, doesn’t it to you? If Jesus doesn’t condemn you, why should you?

Unburdening yourself from the crushing weight of guilt, shame, bad decisions, failed relationships, and mistakes helps you to put happiness back into your holidays.

Create a holiday experience that heals your heart and nurtures your mind, body, and soul, and adopt a pace that helps you to manage everything you have going on, so when you say, “Merry Christmas,” you mean it because it comes from a place of inner peace instead of chaos.

Peace

Let this season be a reflection of a life that you are intentionally acknowledging and living in the present moment. Do you have abundance with your finances, time, and energy this year? Then, let the season reflect it. But if you’ve been weathering a big, dark storm this year, you have permission to adapt the holidays to accommodate your needs and your family’s needs.

Freedom

Try not to add too many unnecessary struggles or demands this holiday season.

It makes no sense to go through the holidays worried, anxious, or stressed. In fact, do your best to lay your burdens down; there’s no reason to struggle and fret during the holidays.

The Gifts That Aren’t Wrapped

Christmas is a time to slow down and reflect, to become aware of the precious gifts we have that we will never find under a tree, and to celebrate family, loved ones, and the privilege of using our life to make the world a better place.

Rise above the hustle and bustle of the holidays by focusing on these things to manage the days ahead with grace and peace instead of being stressed and overwhelmed.

This year, let the miracle of the season transform your burdens into blessings as you strive to unlock your best life.

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A truly grateful person counts their blessings, not their burdens. 

Gratitude is a powerful emotion that fills our soul with a deep appreciation for what matters most. 

It’s a superpower that sets the tone for our day, fuels goodwill, creates opportunities, frames our expectations, and guides our actions.

Furthermore, it reminds us that the most important things in life for which we’re the most grateful are free.

Here are ten ways to become a person of gratitude. 

Keep A Gratitude Journal

Wake up grateful in the morning by listing two or three things you’re deeply thankful for. Consider writing them in your journal first thing in the morning or last thing at night before going to bed. There are journaling apps you can download. Or keep it super simple with a notebook. 

Smile and Say Thank You

When someone says or does something nice or helpful, smile and say thank you. Acknowledge the kindness of others. They will feel appreciated, and you will feel good. Gratitude strengthens social connections and makes relationships happier.  

Give

Saying thank you is easy and something everyone can and should do. Why not go the extra mile and donate time, money, or some things you no longer want or need to make someone’s life better? At the heart of gratitude is generosity and selflessness. 

Do Something You Love and Enjoy!

It’s hard to feel or be grateful when you deprive yourself. So try to make time for joy every day by doing something you love. Read for a few minutes, call a loved one, walk at sunset, listen to music, bake something, spend time with your pet, sing, paint, take your camera and snap some pictures. Just do something you enjoy! 

Do Something Nice for a Stranger

Savor and deepen the feelings of gratitude by experiencing it on a deeper level by doing something nice for a stranger. Offer help, hold the door, or smile. Or, if you’re in a position to do so, consider helping someone struggling financially by helping them out. Doing something nice helps them, makes the world better, and makes you feel good and more appreciative of your life and blessings. 

Celebrate Friends and Family

Connecting with friends and family reminds you of what’s most important in life. Call or text someone you love. They’ll love hearing from you! And you’ll feel warm all over inside. 

Wear A “No Complaining” Bracelet

Complaining blocks the flow of gratitude and creates negativity and pessimism. Unless you’re careful, it becomes a habit. One way to break this habit is by wearing a no complaining bracelet for thirty days. If you complain during that time, move it to your other wrist and start over. You might be surprised how hard it is to make it through thirty days without complaining, but by the end of the challenge, regardless of how many times you’ve had to start over, your mindset will have changed. You’ll have become much more grateful and find yourself focusing on your blessings and the good in people instead of your burdens and things people do that annoy you. 

Give Hand Written Thank You Notes

There’s something special about holding a thank you note in this digital age because it shows thought and effort. Get some nice stationary and notecards. Why not send a note a week? Your parents and grandparents will love this, and they will keep them to read again and again. At the very least, send a thank you note for the kind gifts, thoughts, and effort you receive.  

Compliments

Receive compliments graciously; give compliments freely. Watch someone’s whole spirit light up when you affirm something about them! Although it’s easier to give compliments than receive them, when someone compliments you, accept it graciously and say thank you. Please don’t do what many people do and negate the compliment with a self-deprecating comment; honor their gesture with genuine gratitude. When you compliment someone, have it be heartfelt without any strings attached; a compliment is a gift you give without expecting anything in return. 

Forgive

Release hurt, anger, resentment, frustration, and bitterness through forgiveness. Consider how those emotions hurt you and hold you back, keeping you stuck in feelings that don’t serve or support your dreams and goals. Forgive those who have hurt you; forgive yourself, too. Say the words out loud: “I forgive_____” or “I forgive myself for _________.” Be grateful for clean slates and second chances you give yourself and others. 

Invite gratitude into your life. Start by making it a habit until it becomes a part of who you are. Try one or more of these ten ideas today – perhaps challenge yourself to do ALL of them in one day! Invite gratitude into your heart and unlock your best life. 

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