12 step approach and 12 days ‘til Christmas

There are exactly 12 days until Christmas! And while that may drive you into worry-mode, or you may feel some of the holiday joy, overall it can be a difficult time of the year. This 12 step approach piggybacks off of the “12 Steps” and brings it into perspective of Christmas. It is not expected of you to become a master of all of these steps. Rather that you begin working each step, step by step, into this season as well as into your life.

Acknowledging that we have a problem and that we need help, even during the holidays, is very important. It is important to reach out and ask for the additionally support.

Understanding that it will take something much bigger than our self to restore sanity and instill strength is a humbling realization. Especially in a season that can bring on a lot of stress, it is uplifting to know that restoration can take place if we find the time to be still.

Giving up control on part of our own agendas during the holidays can be extremely challenging. And this is not just talking about who is cooking the turkey. We are talking about the things in our lives.

Instead of taking the inventory of friends family, and others, it is still a time to self-reflect. You cannot control the actions, the past, or the future of others. You can however, increase your self-awareness and become in control of yourself.

Learning to accept humility in and being honest to "self" and others is powerful. It is an import step to identify the wrongs so we can then learn to live in the right.

Inviting the defects of our character to leave, to become a new slate with a new ending is a priority. This can be extremely difficult to do, to acknowledge the not so good parts. How wonderful to allow the growth of the new to come.

Looking to your higher power to have your shortcomings removed. These shortcomings can really feel like barriers. That we did not do enough, cannot be enough, or should have done more. That can really weigh on a person. If we approach our higher power with a humble heart, we can remove our perspective from shortcomings to overcomer!

Maybe it was a family member, a friend, a co-worker, a stranger. Whoever it was, maybe you find that weighing on the relationship you had with that person. The holiday season is very much centered on giving, and maybe this year you will find it in your heart to just give a little time…a little time to begin the process, to amending some of those relationships.

If you began making your list from the last step, this process will be a little easier. Once you identify who you are making amends with, you can then make the time to make that amends where you find appropriate. Maybe it’s not during the opening of gifts, or at the family dinner, but maybe you are able to find some quiet time in between. Maybe it’s just a phone call.

Back from Step 4, perhaps in moving through these steps you have now been able to more clearly identify your inventory list of yourself.

At the second to last step, we continue to ask our higher power for his will over ours as we improve council.