The Christmas season is a time of joy and celebration, a time to come together and share the spirit of the holidays. But what does it actually mean to embrace the spirit of Christmas? Does it mean giving and receiving gifts, attending Christmas parties and decorating the tree? Or is there something else behind it? At its core, the Christmas spirit is about embracing the values of peace, joy and love. It’s about taking time to reach out to those around us and actively practicing kindness and generosity. It’s about giving of ourselves, not just giving gifts, and enjoying the simple joys of the season
The holiday season is the perfect time to move beyond the material and instead focus on connecting with others. Whether you’re part of a large family or just a few friends getting together, this is the perfect time to share your hearts and stories. Take time to visit with each other, to really listen to what’s going on in each other’s lives, and to make sure everyone feels seen and heard. One of the best ways to make sure the Christmas spirit is alive in your home is to focus on activities that don’t involve money. This can mean baking Christmas treats together, decorating the tree with homemade ornaments, or playing games like charades. This is also a good time to establish traditions that will be kept for years, such as a movie night together or exchanging Secret Santa gifts.
The True Meaning of the Christmas Spirit
Christmas is a celebration, a time of giving and not just a day when we exchange gifts. The spirit of Christmas is in the togetherness, in the thoughts you lavish on others. It’s a selfless time to forgive, to get back to basics, and to become a “better” version of ourselves.
The feelings of love, gratitude and generosity that come with the season, feel gratitude for the good things in your life. Remember to express gratitude to the people who have made your life better and adopt new behaviors that come from interacting with those who have helped you.
Taking a break from the daily grind gives you space, and a break in the daily cycle can restore not only your physical energy, but your mental energy as well. Evidence suggests that everyday stress limits creativity and clouds our judgment, preventing us from reaching our full potential. So don’t forget to take a break from the hustle and bustle of your daily life.
Top 5 Generosity Giving Back During the Holiday Season
- Helping the elderly or vulnerable
If you’re able to give up your seat on public transportation to meet the needs of another person, that may be all it takes. The feelings this brings are incredible
- Donate to a charitable organization
Helping others feels good. When you donate to a charity you care about, you not only help them continue their important work, but you also improve your emotional well-being – a win-win!
- Show kindness to a stranger
When you’re kind to a stranger, you strike up a conversation with them and can build new friendships and relationships with people.
- Donate your belongings to charity
Whether you give money or time: Giving promotes happiness, brings us closer to others, and strengthens empathy. These are important prerequisites for a life of prosperity that starts from within. After a certain point, more income doesn’t increase well-being – but empathetic giving to others does
- Mentoring others
Mentoring allows people to learn from each other and provides a way to transfer knowledge. In the workplace, for example, someone who is already in the workforce can share their knowledge and experience with someone who is newer and give them advice. In academic institutions, students can explore educational and career opportunities with a mentor, while a recent graduate can gain insight into career paths and contacts for future employment. At its core, mentoring is an opportunity for people to learn from each other. It allows for a transfer of knowledge between two or more people that benefits everyone.
Conclusion
The Christmas season is a time of joy and festivities full of good cheer. It’s also the perfect time to reflect on how far we have come, how fortunate we’re, and that it’s not always about what you “give back” in material things. Rather, it’s about the support and love you give to those you care about who don’t have everything they need. Your friends, family, co-workers or neighbours – they could all use some help this Christmas.
Small acts have the potential to have a big impact on the world.
Ultimately, social engagement is how we go from being individuals who have a small impact on the day-to-day happenings of the world, to being actors who can make our goals a reality. Social engagement paves the way for us to channel our best selves into what we want for all people.
We can still be surprised at how powerful our gifts are and how gracious these small gifts can be when used wisely by others.
We long for community, caring, and camaraderie that is transformative for both the individual and the collective whole. These small acts of generosity are what we need to inspire and nurture each other to build something truly wonderful.
Last but not least, I wish you a magical Christmas this year!
