Notes from this Episode

Background

• What are your thoughts on Christmas, and are they serving you to help you have a happy, joyful season?

Our Thoughts about Christmas

• What are you doing or what are you not doing in preparation for the Christmas season? 
• What are the feelings that are fueling those actions?
  • Do you have a sense of guilt, stress, obligation, or overwhelm?
    • Are you doing all of the things because you are joyous, excited, connected, or peaceful?

Do Not Give in to the Negative Thoughts

• Why can two people do the same things but have very different outcomes?
  • Our actions come from the thoughts we have about those actions.
    • If our thought is any of the following…:
      • “This is what is expected from me”
      • “I need to make sure the kids have a great time”
      • “We have been doing all of these traditions so we just have to keep doing them”
      • …then is it no wonder that our feelings are obligation, stress, guilt, and lack of joy?
    • Instead, if we decide our thought will be, “the birth of Jesus is a big deal”, we will want to make it a big deal, and will show up happy and peaceful.
  • Do not automatically accept the first thought that comes to your mind – it is most often your habit brain telling you to stay safe and conserve energy.
  • It may be hard, but step back and ask yourself what you really want for the Christmas season?

Mary & Joseph and Their Why

• Mary and Joseph knew that everything in each of their lives led up to the moment of Jesus’ birth.  Nothing else before or after mattered.
• All of their actions came from knowing their why and the feeling that came with their why.
  • They were committed and generous.  They embraced God’s Will and trusted Him.
    • They said yes.

What is God Asking of You?

• What is God asking of you, and what does He want you to do?
• Why did God give you all your gifts and talents?  He gave them to you to help you carry out your mission and calling.
• One of your missions is to spiritually bring Jesus into the world.
• So, as you look at all the beauty of the season and the ways we celebrate, turn it to yourself and ask, “What is He asking of me?”
  • Do you live with the peace, hope, patience and trust of Mary?

Final Thoughts

• God could have sent His son into the world any way He wanted, but He chose to send Jesus to a family.
• In the family we find God, but only if we take His mission for us as seriously, completely, and generously as Mary and Joseph did.
• So, what is your thought about being a woman on a mission from God?  How does that thought make you feel?
• Because your thoughts and feelings direct your actions, you will either find that you embrace God’s will for you, no matter how imperfectly, or you do not.  Your thought will create your happiness or it will not.
• Do not let Christmas pass you by as just a beautiful memory or event.  Let Christmas change you.