How will you spend this Christmas season?
Whether it’s a family vacation, cafe hopping with friends or simply a quiet moment of relaxation, let’s make the most of this festive season.
The festive season is a great time to relax and reconnect with loved ones.
Let’s prioritise rest and connection, here are some practical tips to help you spend quality time with your loved ones:
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present. By focusing on the present moment, mindfulness allows us to discover and pay attention to positive experiences that we often overlook.
If you are navigating a difficult period right now—such as facing a cancer diagnosis or recurrence—it is important to remember that acknowledging your situation does not mean denying its challenges. Instead, it means embracing the truth of what you are experiencing and recognising that it is okay to feel a full range of emotions, including the difficult ones.
So, after acknowledging these feelings, you might wonder: What’s next?
We can then shift our focus to what truly matters to us, such as spending meaningful time with our loved ones. By practicing mindfulness, we can become more aware of the details and characteristics of our surroundings through our five senses. This heightened awareness helps us fully appreciate and cherish the moments we share with our loved ones in the present:
- Sense of sight – The types/hues of colors, the shapes/sizes of objects etc.
- Sense of touch – The warmth/texture/dampness of the object etc.
- Sense of hearing – The tone/pitch/quality of sounds in the environment etc.
- Sense of smell – The type/strength/pleasantness of smells in the environment etc.
- Sense of taste (if applicable) – The basic type of taste (i.e. sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami) / wetness / spiciness etc.
This practice can be incorporated anytime, anywhere, and in any meaningful moment.
Let’s take a look at an example! For example, Alice, a young adult battling cancer, spends quality time with her husband, John, while Christmas shopping at the mall. As they walked hand in hand, they felt the warmth of each other’s touch. They noticed the vibrant colors of the Christmas decorations, the gentle melodies of festive songs playing in the background, and the enticing aroma of baked turkey wafting from nearby food stalls. By tuning into these details, Alice and John were able to fully appreciate their time together, making their Christmas celebration all the more meaningful.
Showing Appreciation and Gratitude
Here are some reflective questions to help us become more aware of the kind gestures from our loved ones that we might sometimes overlook:
- What are some areas of your life that have improved since last year? How have your loved ones contributed to these positive changes?
- Recently, what moments in your relationships with loved ones have reminded you of the goodness in life?
- What is something you are looking forward to in the future, and how do you see your loved ones playing a part in it?
By reflecting on these questions, we can uncover new insights of gratitude and share them with our loved ones during quality time together. Expressing this gratitude can deepen our connections and enrich the positive experiences we share.
Let’s continue looking at the example of Alice and John!
As they continued strolling through the aisles of shops, Alice turned to John and said, “This year hasn’t been easy for us. After my sudden cancer diagnosis, you gave up your job to take care of me. It’s been such a challenging time for both of us, but I’m so deeply grateful for your unwavering support and companionship. I couldn’t have faced this journey alone without you by my side.”
Alice then added, “I’ve thought a lot about your offer, and I’ve decided that once I’ve recovered, I want to join you in your café business. Just as you’ve supported me through my cancer journey, I want to support you in building your dream.”
Conclusion
The possibilities for creating meaningful quality time are endless, offering countless opportunities for creative and heartfelt moments. Instead of worrying about how effective your quality time is, focus on savoring the moments you share with your loved ones in the present. This Christmas season, take the time to truly connect and enjoy special moments with your friends and family.
From all of us at the 365CPS Counselling Team, we wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas!
If you or your loved ones need someone to talk to or require counselling support, feel free to schedule an appointment with our counsellors. We are here to help.
