eNEWSLETTER
December 2003
Our Mission Statement:
"Providing a range of innovative professional services, empowering our clients to positively address issues affecting their lives."
Welcome to Clayfield Counselling Services December eNewsletter!
The Reality of Christmas
As another year draws to a close we find ourselves snowballing toward that hurried festive season - Christmas.
For many weeks beforehand we are bombarded with vivid images everywhere - television, newspapers, magazines, shopping centres - nowhere is there a place to hide from the hype and demand to spend more money and celebrate with loved ones during this festive season. As the countdown to Christmas begins, children are targeted by marketing campaigns pushing the latest and greatest toys upon them whilst parents struggle with the bigger picture of living up to the marketing gurus expectations of purchasing, organising gatherings and budgeting finances. We are told that Christmas is a time for family, however the perception of families being happy and reunited is reinforced in a culture where the reality is often very different.
What is the meaning of Christmas for families?
The automatic response to this question inevitably includes such words as peace, harmony and family goodwill, however for many people nothing could be further from the truth. Christmas is regarded as a celebration of family togetherness. In fact, the feeling of loss and sadness, isolation and loneliness arise for those who have lost loved ones, suffered marriage breakdown or have estranged relationships with parents and siblings. This is a time when counsellors, family doctors and other community support agencies notice a similar trend, which indicates that the Christmas season brings added stress and loneliness.
How to avoid Christmas stress?
A common mistake that people make at this time is to spend large amounts of money and energy buying Christmas gifts that leave them in financial debt throughout the following year. It is a mistake to judge the worth of our giving by the expense of our gifts. The most treasured gifts are priceless. As Dr Simon Longstaff of the St James Ethics Centre asks, " What is the price of a smile, a caring look, the touch of a hand, a kind word? Nothing". In addition, there are some people who are not willing to give up the illusion of family togetherness, knowing that the event will bring further hurt and pain in an already dysfunctional family. We need to understand that we are all individuals with different thinking patterns and as such can't be expected to get along with everyone, and that in itself is okay.
There are some practical steps that we can take to reduce the stress at Christmas. These include having realistic expectations, planning and budgeting…. Further tips can be found via the links below.
What is the spirit of Christmas?
The spirit of Christmas is something that we find within ourselves. It is that sense of inner peace of accepting who we are and the feelings of goodwill towards others. The following quotes highlight this…
"Until one feels the spirit of Christmas, there is no Christmas. All else is outward display--so much tinsel and decorations. For it isn't the holly, it isn't the snow. It isn't the tree nor the firelight's glow. It's the warmth that comes to the hearts of men when the Christmas spirit returns again." - Unknown
"He who has no Christmas in his heart will never find Christmas under a tree." - Sunshine Magazine
"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." - Calvin Coolidge
Christmas can be a time of joy and renewed contact with family and friends if we understand the problems of the past and move towards helping ourselves manage our feelings and relationships. Professional counselling and support can assist people to recognise the ineffective patterns that they have developed in coping with the Christmas season and will help you find more effective solutions to a happier, more joyous occasion.
Interesting Websites
- http://www.livinglimitlessly.com/beyond_xmas.html
- http://www.brisinst.org.au/resources/dickie_phil_bah.html
- http://www.disability.vic.gov.au/...
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/features/xmas/default.htm
Need a qualified professional counsellor?
Office hours are from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. After hours and Saturday appointments are available on request.
Until next time then...
"Somehow, not only for Christmas, but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you. And the more you spend in blessing the poor and lonely and sad, the more of your heart's possessing returns to you glad." - John Greenleaf Whittier
Wishing you a happy and safe Festive Season,
The editorial team at Clayfield Counselling Services