Staying Positive this festive season amid a Negative Political landscape

Christmas is around the corner , the time we all eagerly wait for , for the whole year. Tinkling bells, colorful decorations, bright lights, the Christmas tree decked up like a bride, a sumptuous feast with loved ones, gift exchange and the highlight of it all – a delicious plum cake. And, new year is not far either , another occasion to celebrate, party and go crazy. Isn't it exciting to plan and prepare for all this ?

Sometimes the excitement can be too much to handle and moreover very short lived . Running around in a frenzy and making preparations for the big days can be quite tiring and stressful. Further , let's not allow Politics to come in the way of enjoying the moment . We all struggle with staying positive when there is so much promotion of the negative given the contenders , the media ,and the stream of opinions on social media , i agree that it can be challenging to keep our vibration high . Spending quality time with family and friends can help us enjoy the festive season to the fullest.

Christmas and New Year are occasions to meet loved ones, some after a long time. You obviously want everything to go smoothly, the preparations to be the best for the big party, and your guests to feel comfortable. It's natural to stress out but consider this : how would you enjoy the day you have prepared for so much unless you relax and try to forget about wrong Politics ? It will provide such deep rest to your mind and body that you are fresh to receive your guests and spend quality time with them.

Reveal your creative side this year , baking a Santa-shaped cake or decorating your Christmas tree differently , now is the time to flaunt your creativity to friends and family. Let them come over and be surprised at your brilliance. Feast and make merry , Festival time deserves to be granted permission to indulge in sweets, chocolates and all kinds of delicacies. After all, it's just once a year. Agreed , but sometimes the time after the festival does not turn out to be favorable to our physical or financial health if not both . Some of us put on weight while some sit with an upset tummy and others with heavy credits . So isn't prevention better than cure ? With meaningful and focused planning , you start becoming more aware of your eating and spending habits so that what you eat and how much you spend becomes easier to keep a watch on. This awareness can be of great help during the festive season.

As you get ready for the big bang on Christmas Eve, take a few minutes out to evaluate and celebrate the successes of the year you are about to exit . Your enjoyment quotient will be higher. Same way, welcome the New Year with setting up your resolutions for the upcoming year so you can begin the year on a fresh and joyful note.

How often do you find yourself looking back over the past year and realizing it was a near failure . Are there things , situations and circumstances you regret or you are too afraid to make a much needed change . Do not worry, you not alone , there are millions of people out there just like you , wishing that they had the internal strength to free themselves from whether it be a horrible relationship, boring job , fear based living or limited thought patterns, the good news is that you don't have to wait until the clock strikes on January 1 , 2018 to make a change. Throw your failures out of the door and look for new success, we all made mistakes in 2017. Ditch the suckers and look for something new and good to happen . Let the past be the past and move on. Let go of the people dragging you down, it's very safe to say that we allow people to drag us down. Letting go of what doesn't serve you opens up the infinite world of possibilities.

Do everything you do with passion , if you hate your job or you not doing enough of constructive things , make the needed adjustments . Ask yourself what is limiting your potential and keeping your uniqueness in the box. This is the time to realize that wherever there is fear, there is no love, and where there is love there cannot be fear . Fear and love are like light and darkness, they will never coexist . What is the worst thing that can happen if you let the real you out of the hiding . Pain is inevitable. All growth comes with bits of pain. Suffering is optional, the hurt part is an unavoidable reality, but whether or not to stand up is up to the runner himself .

As you sing carols to praise the Lord. The true spirit of the festival is really in giving, being grateful for what we have and being compassionate to those who don't have enough. Remember the cause of celebration this Christmas – as you wrap gifts for your loved ones, consider some donations to charity; as you bake that mouth-watering plum cake, remember the poor kids on the streets and keep some share for them ; and as you write your wish list to put in the stocking and hang it on the Christmas tree for Santa , make sure you ask something for the needy as well. And the more you share , the more it grows.

Keep an open heart this coming year and feel the joy in you dwell up as you beam with content for bringing a smile on somebody's face. If we are going to have an amazing new year 2018 , we got to will our minds to stay positive. To know life isn't perfect, it's not fair , and that we will hurt , yet in every moment we can choose to see the positive. Focus on the moment . Dale Carnegie calls it "Living in a day tight compartment". The secret of all secrets , is that it is still possible to have a kickass 2018 . Have a great festive season .

 Matthew Dube esquire Business leader , transformational Coach , strategist ,persuasion & communication expert, marketer - mattdube63@yahoo.com, Cell - 072 912 2466 : Landline - 013 753 2277 @Dubebrand. : mattdube_esq