As the holiday season approaches, the air is filled with the scent of cinnamon, and the streets are adorned with twinkling lights. For many, Christmas is a time of joy, love, and magic. However, lurking beneath the surface of the festive cheer is an unspoken pressure to keep Christmas magical.
In a world fueled by social media and advertisements, the pressure of perfect has never been more in your face. From beautifully decorated homes to elaborate feasts and carefully curated gift exchanges, the idealized Christmas often feels like an unattainable standard. Social media showcases themed trees and trendy wrapping styles, creating a sense of competition to have the most picturesque Christmas possible.
For some, the pressure to give a wonderful Christmas is the driving factor for the stress and overwhelm. The desire to see the sparkle in your child’s eye as they unwrap the gift they wanted or the smiles from the first taste of a homemade Christmas cookie could make anyone go crazy stressing about every little detail. The fear of disappointing loved ones can weigh heavily on us, leading to overwhelm and anxiety during the jolliest time of the year.
I know I have said this once already in an email this last month, but I’m going to say it again. The key is balance. Setting realistic expectations and embracing imperfections is a fantastic way to start.
It’s important for us to remember that the magic of Christmas comes from the things that easily get overlooked when we strive for the picture perfect Hallmark Christmas. The moments spent with family and loved ones, the kids getting excited for Santa, the warm fuzzy feeling when you drive around sipping hot cocoa and looking at the lights, the deep seated gratitude you feel for the year that has passed no matter how difficult – that is the magic of Christmas.
So who cares if the tree topper is a little slanted, the garland isn’t perfectly symmetrical, the outside lights still haven’t gone up, or the new recipe you thought would be the showstopper of Christmas dinner turned out to be a bust. We are all doing our best and each year that’s going to look different. "Perfect" can be whatever you want it to be.
Now - take this blog about Christmas and apply it to other parts of your life - especially the parts involving your body and your relationship with yourself.
Remember:
You don't have to be "perfect" to be wonderful and beautiful.
You don't have to be "successful" to be worthy.
You don't have to be everything to be enough.
You are wonderful, beautiful, worthy, and enough... and so much more.
The pressure of perfect - isn't worth the cost of your joy.
xoxo - Mackenzie