At Home with Yourself for the Holidays
True joie de vivre comes from being happy with yourself wherever you are...
My wishes for everyone this season are for you to feel at home with yourself wherever you are, and that you fully embody the joie de vivre of the holidays, living joyfully in the present, without any worry or fear about the future.
I define being “at home” with yourself as being happy with who you are, your current place in life, and being excited about where you’re going. It’s about living authentically with a deep-seated trust in yourself that’s completely unshakeable. Of course, this is the way I’d like everyone to live year-round; it’s a state of being I help my clients work toward all the time.
However, at a time of the year when emotions are heightened this “at home” feeling can be harder to pinpoint and maintain. As we reflect on the year ending it’s easy to point out things you missed, where you wish you were by now, the disappointments you can’t shake. I know the frustration and have felt it, acutely, in holidays past.
I’m not going to tell you to pretend bad things didn’t happen or that you’re being overly dramatic, but I am going to tell you that you can get past it and move forward. Reclaiming yourself and your joie de vivre isn’t as hard as you might think. In fact, I think it’s a truly imperative act at this time of the year. Yes, sometimes it’s a matter of putting things on a shelf to deal with later, but it’s mostly a matter of actively coming back home to yourself.
If you need a little refresher about coming back home to yourself this season, here are my tips for you. (If you’re already there - brava! But keep this in your back pocket in case you need it in the future):
Journal: Write down who are you at the moment, what you want, and how you’re currently living. Highlight all the things you’re proud of, noting any specific wins, or just whatever is currently bringing you pleasure.
Carve out Calm Time: Finding a time for stillness amidst the chaos is essential. Don’t hesitate to find time to rewatch a movie you love or take a long walk. Even just a long, quiet bath counts!
Your Inner Circle: Surround yourself with those who are the most important people in your life. They should fill you up and you should feel deeply relaxed in their presence. Be with people you trust and who trust you.
Remember your Joie de Vivre: I have a personal theory that truly enjoying life can overcome almost any ills. (See: Mood Follows Action! Workshop below…) Like, when you’re truly enjoying life it will trump anything bad, hands down. So, get out there and enjoy your life, and let what’s ailing yourself work itself out while you go have some fun.
Being at home with yourself has nothing to do with material items or status symbols. It has everything to do with trusting yourself and living authentically. This kind of freedom is priceless and enables you to truly open the door to all the merriment in the world and join in the fun just as you are.
I can’t wait see what the season brings for everyone. I always love hearing what comes into people’s lives as they circulate, embrace the joie de vivre of the season, and remain open to the sprinkle of fairy dust that may come their way. Have a wonderful time wherever you are and remember that it’s all going to work out. Be at home with yourself and enjoy!
DECEMBER EVENTS!
December 19th from 5-7pm at Kerri Rosenthal in Westport, CT: Jane Beiles will be introducing her gorgeous planner and we’ll be talking about getting 2024 off on the right foot. Come one, come all!
WORKSHOPS
Retail Therapy & Shopping Season: I can’t lie, I 100% believe in retail therapy. That said, it needs to be something that’s kept in check, especially during shopping season. Here’s my little workshop on holiday shopping!
Mood Follows Action!: We all know this, but what do we do about it? Here’s my workshop on taking action to change your mood. It’s not as hard as you think!
Past Newsletters:
A line-up of recent newsletters. Here you go!
☀️☀️☀️ This time of year is so much fun for me. I’m having amazing conversations with a lot of people about hopes and dreams and wishes for 2024. Rest assured, you don’t have to use the start of the years as the only time you can make shifts for yourself. However, I get that the new year date is neat and tidy so if you want to use it - go for it! I’ll be back after Christmas with a newsletter to help you wrap up the year and get excited for what’s to come. (Hint: It’s really, really good!)
☀️☀️☀️☀️ We have one more event next week and we’d love you to come. Stay tuned for more events in 2024!
☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ I’m currently booking individual clients for Winter 2024. If you’re interested, please contact me at Kelsey@kelseybanfield.com so we can touch base to secure your spot.
Have a wonderful holiday season!