If you find yourself looking forward to the end of the holiday season instead of the beginning, here’s a call to shift gears and reclaim what should be a time of appreciation, excitement, joy, and peace. Make up your mind that this is going to be your happiest Christmas ever. Your decision to emphasize the positive can reclaim a season that is supposed to bring out the best in us, rather than do us in. The truth is that this time of year offers us a wonderful opportunity to rekindle the spirit of love and living life to the fullest.

With your expectations set on positive, here are some attitude adjustments to try:

• I’ll let the holidays flow, rather than trying to make them fit into a fixed schedule.
• I’ll remember that people are more important than things.
• I’ll relax my expectations for myself and others this year.
• I’m going to live in the present moment and enjoy each activity for itself instead of always thinking about what is ahead of me.
• I’m going to approach the holidays with a sense of joyful anticipation and wonder, just like I did when I was a child.

By vowing to think and behave in more meaningful ways, you’ll find in each present moment of the Christmas season something to savor and enjoy. Each moment of our lives affords us a choice and the holiday season is no exception. This life is a miracle, each and every particle of it, and the holiday season is a celebration of the miraculousness of it all.

You have choices in this business of Christmas celebrations. The responsibility is always your own. The true meaning of the holidays is one of joy, love, peace, and happiness. Cultivate a child-like awe and appreciation and have a Merry Christmas!