Suddenly it feels as though the holiday season is upon us. Thanksgiving feasts have been digested and now we prepare for the marathon of holiday parties, shopping, volunteering, and giving that makes up the season. What a magical time of the year!
With this merriment though comes a lot of stress and pressure, and an overwhelmed sensation of how am I going to get this all accomplished! Whether these are pressures we place on ourselves or are lovingly inflicted by others, these feelings take a toll on us both mentally and physically.
To help get through this joyous time of the year – and enjoy this magical season - I am focusing on the 7 factors of resilience from the Resilience @Work Sustain 7 model. Resilience is not a fixed personality trait but rather a state, something that we can all develop, maintain and sustain.
S1 Living Authentically is the first factor in personal resilience. How often do you think about and hold onto your personal values, deploying your strengths, and having a good level of emotional awareness and regulation during the holiday season? All too often this goes out the window as we say to ourselves “I’ll have plenty of time to recuperate in January” or “I can pay for this later” or “this is what is expected of me” or “I have to bake 12 dozen cookies for the cookie exchange or else” you get my point!
Right now, reflect on your personal values, which will you hold onto and stay true to course during this time of the year? What strengths can you rely on to keep you centered and living authentically? For me, I am a strong planner, so I will set out a plan (including personal budget and boundaries) for the season in order to prevent myself from becoming overwhelmed. I will also stay true to my values and core beliefs by reminding myself that love is not expressed by the size of the gift but rather that it comes from the heart. I will be true to who I am and my family values and not be swayed by the media or others. Further I am adding some quiet time to my calendar, so I have time to meditate and be present in the moment.
How will you build, maintain and sustain your resilience this holiday season? I’d love to hear your ideas.
Stay tuned for S2 Finding Meaning and Purpose.
The R@W Sustain 7 is a simple yet powerful model that creates a common language within workplaces around resilience. Our experience is that it resonates across a wide range of industries and occupations. Contact us at forwardfocuscoaching@shaw.ca to learn how you can use it with your team.