But for others, Christmas and the entire festive season can be a really stressful or sad time.

And it’s for a whole variety of reasons.  Here’s just a few:

• A feeling of dread at the thought of seeing family members they don’t have a good history with
• Feelings of inadequacy, linked to people they are seeing over the holiday break
• Feelings of loneliness due to lost friendships
• Anxiety over ‘keeping up appearances’
• Worry over finances and keeping everybody happy in the gift-giving department
• Sadness over recent – or not-so recent loss – e.g. death of a loved one
• Feelings of non-achievement over goals set last Christmas that have not been achieved

Experiencing all or any of the above can really create a negative festive season!

But the reality is you can CHANGE this!

You CREATE your own experience!

And you do it with your thinking.

As individuals, we have so much power because we have our minds and we have the ability to consciously think.  The way we think shapes our life experience.

If we wake up for instance, feeling really edgy, irritable and grumpy, it really sets the tone for the day.  Haven’t you experienced that for yourself?

Your day just tends to spiral out of control – almost like a domino effect.  And you seem to attract negativity into your day, the more you hold onto those negative thoughts and feelings.

If you change your thought patterns and start thinking happy and optimistic thoughts, then your whole experience of that day changes.

And you can do the same for Christmas too.

If you are facing any of those stresses listed in the above, turn that thought into a positive one.  If you have thoughts of not having enough money, start to think of abundance.  Start thinking of having enough money and enjoy the feeling that comes with that thought.

I guarantee you’ll feel a lot better and the experience – an experience you may have been dreading – will be made so much more enjoyable.

We create our own experiences through our thoughts.

In the film, “The Secret” one of the teachers by the name of Marci Shimoff said, “Once you begin to understand your thoughts and feelings, that’s when you see how you create your own reality.  That’s where your freedom is, that’s where all your power is.”

Put positive thinking to the test for yourself today, and get ready for what will be a lovely Christmas Day – if you WANT it and THINK it!

P.S. I will be taking 2 new coaching clients early in 2010 for an intensive 1 year coaching programme. Contact me directly at Donald@zonedinperformance.com if you are interested. A place on the programme is not guaranteed and I will be working with people totally committed to creating the “WOW LIFE” they desire and acting fearlessly to make their vision a reality.